Columbia University Graduates Boo as Commencement Speaker’s Mic Cuts Off During Critique of College’s Stance on Gaza. The incident likely sparked discussions about free speech and the role of dissent in academic settings. It may have overshadowed the celebratory atmosphere of the graduation ceremony.
Saham David Ahmed Ali, a student at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, gave a speech calling for the school to take action on Israel’s continued bombardment of Gaza.
However, minutes into her remarks, her microphone began cutting out, causing the crowd to boo and chant “Let her speak.”
The microphone cut out twice during her speech, but she continued to speak, calling on Columbia to disclose their financial records and divest from institutions “profiting off of Palestinian genocide.” She also asked the school to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
The incident comes as Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed at least 35,000 people, most of them women and children. The United Nations and other international agencies have declared a man-made famine in Gaza, with at least 32 people, including 28 children, dying of malnutrition and dehydration.
Columbia University has faced protests against Israel’s war in Gaza, with hundreds of protesters arrested in April. The college cancelled its commencement ceremony and is only hosting school-specific graduation ceremonies. Protests have spread to other campuses across the US, resulting in thousands of arrests.
Ali also called on the school to end expansion into surrounding New York City neighborhoods, citing the displacement of low-income residents in Harlem. Students have a long history of protesting against the school’s expansion, dating back to 1968 when they fought against racist policies that would have dictated separate and unequal access to facilities.
The incident highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding Israel’s actions in Gaza and the role of universities in addressing social and political issues. Columbia University has yet to comment on the incident.
The microphone cutouts sparked outrage among students and faculty, with many taking to social media to express their support for Ali and criticize the university’s handling of the situation. “Columbia University’s attempt to silence Saham David Ahmed Ali’s powerful speech is a stark reminder of the university’s complicity in Palestinian oppression,” wrote one student on Twitter.
Others praised Ali’s courage in speaking out against the university’s stance on Gaza. “Saham David Ahmed Ali’s speech was a beacon of hope for a more just and equitable future. Her bravery in the face of censorship is an inspiration to us all,” wrote a faculty member on Facebook.
The incident has sparked a wider conversation about the role of universities in addressing social and political issues. Many are calling on Columbia University to take a stronger stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza and to support Palestinian rights.
In a statement, the Columbia University Apartheid Divest group said, “We stand in solidarity with Saham David Ahmed Ali and demand that Columbia University take immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We will continue.
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