USC Cancels Speech by Pro-Palestinian Valedictorian

By: Asna Tabassum   Source: Democracy Now Apr 19, 2024 No Comments


Amid widespread repression of pro-Palestinian voices on campuses across the United States, we speak to University of Southern California valedictorian Asna Tabassum, whose commencement speech has been canceled for what the university claimed were "safety" reasons after Tabassum became the subject of an online anti-Palestinian hate campaign led by pro-Israel groups.

"When I had asked for details regarding the security concerns," says Tabassum of learning about the cancellation, "I was offered no information and was told it was not appropriate for me to know." Tabassum, a first-generation South Asian American Muslim graduating with a major in biomedical engineering and a minor in resistance to genocide, says the unprecedented cancellation of her speech has been "heartbreaking."

Related Suggestions

Clashes Break Out Amid Protests at UCLA
Campus Protests Expose Truth
Whatever Happened to International Law?
Student Protests for Palestine Erupt Across College Campuses in America
Dear American Students ...
Daddy, why did Khamas attack us on October 7?
A Pro-Palestine Book Wins A Top Jewish Book Prize
Water Crisis is Deepening in Northern Gaza
College Students Rising Up Against Genocide
A Brief History of U.S. Support for Israel
What Student Protests say About U.S. Politics, Israel Support
Eyes: The Tragedy of Yazan Kafarneh
 
COMMENTS DISCLAIMER & RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
The opinions expressed herein, through this post or comments, contain positions and viewpoints that are not necessarily those of IslamiCity. These are offered as a means for IslamiCity to stimulate dialogue and discussion in our continuing mission of being an educational organization. The IslamiCity site may occasionally contain copyrighted material the use of which may not always have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. IslamiCity is making such material available in its effort to advance understanding of humanitarian, education, democracy, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.


In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, and such (and all) material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.