Harvard commencement to take place while university's lawyers argue against Trump administration in federal court. Follow live updates.
NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar addressed graduating seniors at Harvard on Wednesday — 8:00 a.m.
By Nick Stoico, Globe Staff
Six-time NBA champion, activist, and author Kareem Abdul-Jabbar praised Harvard University for pushing back against 'a tyrannical administration' in its
Speaking at Harvard's Tercentenary Theatre, Abdul-Jabbar reflected on his path into social justice activism as a young athlete in the 1960s and the civil rights leaders who inspired him, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks.
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Abdul-Jabbar recalled King's remarks after his home was bombed in 1956 during the Montgomery bus boycott, when King
'One of the reasons I'm so pleased to be here today is because I view Harvard University as being among the 'others' willing to take Dr. King's place,' Abdul-Jabbar told the audience Wednesday.
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'When a tyrannical administration tried to bully and threaten Harvard to give up their academic freedom and destroy free speech, [Harvard President] Dr. Alan Garber rejected the illegal and immoral pressures the way Rosa Parks declined...' he said as the crowd applauded, drowning out the end of his sentence.
Class Day is an annual celebration before Harvard's commencement exercises, which will be held Thursday morning.
Author and Stanford professor Abraham Verghese will give this year's commencement address.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar delivers a speech during Harvard's Class Day ceremony on May 28, 2025, in Cambridge, MA.
Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe
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