Latest news with #MeghaM.Vemuri
International Business Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- International Business Times
Who Is Megha Vemuri? Indian-Origin Student Banned from MIT Graduation Ceremony for Delivering Pro-Palestine Commencement Speech
Jewish students walked out of their graduation ceremony on Thursday after the commencement speaker at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology accused the prestigious institution of supporting efforts to wipe "Palestine from the face of the Earth." Megha M. Vemuri, president of the Class of 2025, drew both boos and applause during her controversial commencement speech, in which she praised her fellow students for demonstrating against Israel right after Hamas carried out a deadly terrorist attack on the Jewish nation on October 7, 2023. One of the students, who was seen waving what appeared to be a Palestinian flag, got into a physical altercation with security as Vemuri continued her speech. Sparking Controversy "You have faced the obstacle of fear before, and you turned it into fuel to stand up for what is right — you showed the world that MIT wants a free Palestine," Vemuri told the crowd as some students stood up and waved the Palestinian flag, according to a video posted by MIT. "Last spring, MIT's undergraduate body and graduate student union voted overwhelmingly to cut ties with the genocidal Israeli military. You called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. And you stood in solidarity with the pro-Palestine activists on campus," Vemuri continued. "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." Vemuri went on with her speech, claiming that there are no universities left in the war-ravaged region of Gaza. Meanwhile, the split audience continued chanting in support of those leaving the ceremony and shouting, "Shame." "We are watching Israel try to wipe Palestine off the face of the earth, and it is a shame that MIT is a part of it," Vemuri charged, as she encouraged anti-Israel activists to keep pressuring the university to cut all ties with the Jewish state to scattered applause from parts of the audience. "The Israeli occupation forces are the only foreign military that MIT has research ties with. This means that Israel's assault on the Palestinian people is not only aided and abetted by our country, but our school." She ended her polarizing speech by accusing the university of being "directly complicit in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people." Not Impressing Everyone Vemuri's controversial speech resulted in her being banned from participating in Friday's undergraduate ceremony, according to an MIT spokesperson who told Fox News Digital that the speech she gave differed from the version previously approved by university officials. "MIT supports free expression but stands by its decision, which was in response to the individual deliberately and repeatedly misleading Commencement organizers and leading a protest from the stage, disrupting an important Institute ceremony," the university said in a statement. MIT was one of many universities where, in the aftermath of the Gaza conflict last year, aggressive anti-Israel protesters prevented Jewish students from attending classes, confronted law enforcement, and gave inflammatory speeches. An Israeli graduate told the outlet that every Jewish family — "not just the Israelis" — chose to leave the event, which was meant to be a happy occasion. "All of our families came from far to see the ceremony and were extremely disappointed," the disheartened grad said.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Jewish students walk out of MIT commencement after speaker accuses university of aiding Israel's ‘genocide'
A commencement speaker accused the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of being part of wiping 'Palestine from the face of the Earth' Thursday, leading multiple students to walk out. Megha M. Vemuri, MIT's class of 2025 president, praised her classmates for protesting against Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks and the ensuing Gaza War. Advertisement 'Last spring, MIT's undergraduate body and graduate student union voted overwhelmingly to cut ties with the genocidal Israeli military. You called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. And you stood in solidarity with the pro-Palestinian activists on campus. You faced threats, intimidation and suppression coming from all directions, especially your own university officials,' Vemuri said. Her comments drew a mix of boos and cheers, according to video obtained by Fox News Digital. One of the attendants, waving what appeared to be a Palestinian flag, scuffled with security. Some students walked out as Vemuri spoke. Advertisement Others in the crowd shouted, 'Shame.' 'But you prevailed because the MIT community that I know would never tolerate a genocide. Right now, while we prepare to graduate and move forward with our lives, there are no universities left in Gaza,' Vemuri continued. She went on to say, 'We are watching Israel try to wipe Palestine off the face of the earth. And it is a shame that MIT is a part of it.' 3 Multiple students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) walked out during the commencement ceremony after Megha M. Vemuri accused the university of wiping 'Palestine from the face of the Earth.' FOX News Advertisement Jewish and Israeli students walked out and some in the crowd protested as Vemuri accused the university of being 'directly complicit in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.' 'The Israeli occupation forces are the only foreign military that MIT has research ties with. This means that Israel's assault on the Palestinian people is not only aided and abetted by our country, but our school. As scientists, engineers, academics, and leaders, we have a commitment to support life. Support aid efforts and call for an arms embargo and keep demanding now as alumni that MIT cuts the ties,' she said. One graduating Israeli student, who wished to remain anonymous, told Fox News Digital, 'All of our families came from far to see the ceremony and were extremely disappointed. All the Jewish families, not only the Israelis, stepped out and left the ceremony. MIT administration approved and supported that.' 3 Megha Vemuri, MIT's class of 2025 president, praised her fellow graduates for protesting against Israel following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks. Boston Globe via Getty Images Advertisement After Vemuri gave her speech at Thursday's commencement event, she was told she would not be allowed at Friday's undergraduate ceremony. 'With regard to MIT's Commencement 2025 activities, the speech delivered by a graduating senior at Thursday's OneMIT Commencement Ceremony was not the one that was provided by the speaker in advance. While that individual had a scheduled role at today's Undergraduate Degree Ceremony, she was notified that she would not be permitted at today's events,' an MIT spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement. 'MIT supports free expression but stands by its decision, which was in response to the individual deliberately and repeatedly misleading Commencement organizers and leading a protest from the stage, disrupting an important Institute ceremony.' 3 Video obtained by Fox News Digital reveals that Vemuri's comments drew a mix of boos and cheers. FOX News College campuses across the U.S. have been rocked with protests amid the Gaza war. MIT was among a plethora of campuses where antisemitic agitators delivered incendiary speeches and faced off with police. Not too far from MIT, Harvard is facing serious pressure from the Trump administration over allegedly harboring 'pro-terrorist' conduct on campus, losing millions in federal funding.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Jewish students walk out after MIT commencement speaker accuses university of aiding Israel's 'genocide'
A commencement speaker accused the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of being part of wiping "Palestine from the face of the Earth" Thursday, leading multiple students to walk out. Megha M. Vemuri, MIT's class of 2025 president, praised her classmates for protesting against Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks and the ensuing Gaza War. "Last spring, MIT's undergraduate body and graduate student union voted overwhelmingly to cut ties with the genocidal Israeli military. You called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. And you stood in solidarity with the pro-Palestinian activists on campus. You faced threats, intimidation and suppression coming from all directions, especially your own university officials," Vemuri said. Her comments drew a mix of boos and cheers, according to video obtained by Fox News Digital. One of the attendants, waving what appeared to be a Palestinian flag, scuffled with security. Some students walked out as Vemuri spoke. Others in the crowd shouted, "Shame." Columbia Grads Shred Diplomas Over Mahmoud Khalil Arrest: 'We Are Enraged' "But you prevailed because the MIT community that I know would never tolerate a genocide. Right now, while we prepare to graduate and move forward with our lives, there are no universities left in Gaza," Vemuri continued. Read On The Fox News App She went on to say, "We are watching Israel try to wipe Palestine off the face of the earth. And it is a shame that MIT is a part of it." Jewish and Israeli students walked out and some in the crowd protested as Vemuri accused the university of being "directly complicit in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people." "The Israeli occupation forces are the only foreign military that MIT has research ties with. This means that Israel's assault on the Palestinian people is not only aided and abetted by our country, but our school. As scientists, engineers, academics, and leaders, we have a commitment to support life. Support aid efforts and call for an arms embargo and keep demanding now as alumni that MIT cuts the ties," she said. One graduating Israeli student, who wished to remain anonymous, told Fox News Digital, "All of our families came from far to see the ceremony and were extremely disappointed. All the Jewish families, not only the Israelis, stepped out and left the ceremony. MIT administration approved and supported that." Israeli Columbia Professor Wants Trump To Block Certain Institutions From Receiving Federal Funding After Vemuri gave her speech at Thursday's commencement event, she was told she would not be allowed at Friday's undergraduate ceremony. "With regard to MIT's Commencement 2025 activities, the speech delivered by a graduating senior at Thursday's OneMIT Commencement Ceremony was not the one that was provided by the speaker in advance. While that individual had a scheduled role at today's Undergraduate Degree Ceremony, she was notified that she would not be permitted at today's events," an MIT spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement. "MIT supports free expression but stands by its decision, which was in response to the individual deliberately and repeatedly misleading Commencement organizers and leading a protest from the stage, disrupting an important Institute ceremony." Harvard, Northwestern Failed Jewish Students During College Campus Protests: House Report College campuses across the U.S. have been rocked with protests amid the Gaza war. MIT was among a plethora of campuses where antisemitic agitators delivered incendiary speeches and faced off with police. Not too far from MIT, Harvard is facing serious pressure from the Trump administration over allegedly harboring "pro-terrorist" conduct on campus, losing millions in federal article source: Jewish students walk out after MIT commencement speaker accuses university of aiding Israel's 'genocide'
