MIT bars Indian-American student from attending graduation ceremony over pro-Palestine speech
The ban on Vemuri, a neuroscience undergrad and class of 2025 President at MIT, came after she took the stage at an MIT event on Thursday to speak about the war in Gaza, her support for Palestine and condemnation of MIT in relation to the Gaza war.
Vemuri's speech on Thursday at the OneMIT ceremony was not the one provided to the institution in advance, according to an MIT spokesperson.
While the institution supports free expression, it stands by the decision to not allow the student at the Friday events because she 'deliberately and repeatedly' misled commencement organisers and led a 'protest from the stage, disrupting an important Institute ceremony.'
With a keffiyah around her shoulders over her cloak, Vemuri told the students on Thursday: "You showed the world that MIT wants a free Palestine."
'You called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and you stood in solidarity with the pro-Palestine activists on campus. You faced threats, intimidation, and suppression coming from all directions, especially your own university officials. But you prevailed because the MIT community that I know would never tolerate a genocide,' she continued.
Vemuri spoke against Israel, saying that the country was trying to 'wipe Palestine off the face of the earth,' adding that MIT was complicit.
Vemuri argued that MIT's ties with the IDF meant that 'Israel's assault on the Palestinian people is not only aided and abetted by our country, but our school.'
Vemuri was met with yells from the crowd, some students jumping out of their seats in support of her words and others shaking their heads seemingly not in support of her speech.
Vemuri continued her speech by stating that the undergraduate and graduate union voted to cut ties with 'the genocidal Israeli military' last spring and for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Last year, MIT was one of the campuses across the country that created a pro-Palestinian encampment. It later ended as the institution said it would suspend those students who didn't leave it and it was cleared out by police.
She concluded with the traditional turning of the class ring, saying that the alumni would now 'carry with us the stamp of the MIT name, the same name that is directly complicit in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.'
MIT President Sally Kornbluth took the stage immediately after, expressing her disapproval of Vemuri's speech.
'At MIT, we value freedom of expression. But today is about the graduates, so it's time for me to charge you all,' Kornbluth said.
'There is a time and a place to express yourselves, and you will have many, many years to do it,' the MIT President said.
According to reports, Vemuri was born and raised in Alpharetta, Georgia, and graduated in Alpharetta High School in 2021. She went to MIT to pursue an undergraduate degree in computer science, neuroscience, and linguistics. She completed her degree while also serving as class president.
CNN quoted MIT to say that she will still receive her graduation degree.
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