At Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) commencement ceremony on Thursday, several Jewish students left the event after Class President Megha M. Vemuri criticized the university’s connections to Israel. Speaking at the ceremony, Vemuri accused MIT of contributing to the erasure of Palestine and condemned its ties with the Israeli military. Her remarks sparked both applause and jeers from the audience, creating a divided atmosphere.
Vemuri addressed the crowd while some attendees stood and waved Palestinian flags in support. She praised students who protested following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. “You turned fear into strength,” she said, referring to campus demonstrations backing a free Palestine. She noted that MIT students voted to cut ties with the Israeli military and called for a ceasefire in Gaza. “Students faced threats from all sides but stood strong,” Vemuri added.
In her speech, Vemuri accused Israeli military actions of destroying all universities in Gaza. She stated, “Israel tries to erase Palestine, and MIT plays a part.” She called on activists to pressure MIT to sever its connections with Israel. Vemuri described the university’s research partnership with Israel’s military as “shameful” and accused it of being complicit in genocide against Palestinians.
Following the speech, MIT officials banned Vemuri from participating in Friday’s undergraduate ceremony. The university said she broke protocol by delivering an unsanctioned speech and leading a protest from the stage. “MIT values free speech but will not tolerate deception,” the school said in a statement. The incident is part of broader campus unrest connected to the Gaza conflict.
An Israeli graduate who witnessed the event told EuroNews24 that all Jewish families present left the ceremony in protest. “Our families traveled far and left disappointed,” the student said. The walkout highlighted the deep divisions on campus over the Israel-Palestine conflict.
This event at MIT follows similar incidents at other universities where political tensions have risen amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Administrators face challenges balancing free speech with maintaining order during highly charged moments.