University of Southern California (USC) announced Thursday that it is canceling its main stage commencement ceremony for 2024 graduates because anti-Israel protests have shut down its campus.
“With the new safety measures in place this year, the time taken to handle the large number of guests coming to campus will increase significantly. As a result, we will not be able to host the main stage ceremony, which traditionally draws 65,000 students, families. , and friends on our campus at the same time and during a short period of time from 8:30 to 10 a.m.,” USC stated on its website,
The university noted that in-person school commencement ceremonies, doctoral hooding ceremonies and other ceremonies and activities will still be held between May 8–11, though it asked students and their families to go to their commencements “due to strict safety measures.” Warned to “give time”. ,
The security measures outlined include showing tickets to provide access to the USC campus as well as attendees attending and checking their bags with a “clear bag policy.”
USC closes campus ‘until further notice’ after anti-Israel protest, 93 arrested for trespassing
USC announced that it was canceling its keynote commencement ceremony after closing its campus due to anti-Israel protests. (Sarah Reinzwirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
Critics slammed the move on social media.
Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin reports, “USC has announced it is canceling its main stage commencement ceremony. Comments Off. Brutal for the Class of ’24. Probably didn’t get to have a high school graduation during COVID in 2020, and no longer had the traditional Will get a college graduate.”
Fox News contributor Mark Thiessen told USC, “Just a disgrace. Hold the graduation and arrest anyone who disrupts it.”
R-Ind. Representative Rudy Yakim said, “Students, family and friends are all eager to celebrate graduation. Now because of the pro-Hamas mob, they can’t do that. This should not happen in America.”
“Pro-Hamas ‘protesters’ have wreaked havoc on one of America’s great universities. As a result, USC is canceling their Key Commencement, a long-standing tradition that celebrates all of their hard-working students.” This is beyond unacceptable,” Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., responded.
“USC has gone from banning student commencement speakers to canceling their entire graduation ceremonies in a matter of weeks,” hedge fund manager Tom Herdon wrote. “Thank you for the $340,000 – we will send you the diploma (probably) I would be angry if I were the parent/graduate.”
OutKick’s Tomi Lahren wrote, “Honoring terrorists on campus.”
The decision was made after USC announced that its campus would remain closed “until further notice” following mass anti-Israel protests on Wednesday, which resulted in 93 arrests.
Captain Kelly Muniz said on Wednesday night that the Los Angeles Police Department arrived on campus around 4 p.m. after “Gaza Solidarity Occupation” protesters refused to comply with the university’s request to leave the area. Most of the arrests were made for trespassing violations, although Muniz said one altercation ended in an arrest for assault with a deadly weapon.
A demonstrator confronts a security officer during a protest on the University of Southern California campus. (Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY)
Earlier this month, USC faced intense backlash for barring its valedictorian, Muslim biomedical engineering student Asna Tabassum, from speaking at the commencement ceremony over security concerns after her critics. Accused of promoting anti-Israel rhetoric On social media.
“To be clear: This decision has nothing to do with freedom of speech. There is no right to free speech to begin with. The issue here is how to maintain the safety and security of the campus,” USC Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Andrew T. Guzman wrote those days.
Tabassum responded by saying, “I am not surprised by people who try to spread hatred. I am surprised that my own university–my home for four years–has abandoned me.”
USC valedictorian Asna Tabassum will no longer speak at the school’s commencement ceremonies. (X/Screenshot/Alan J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Anti-Israel protests have occurred on college campuses across the country in recent weeks, many of them encamped, often leading to tensions with authorities.
Columbia University in New York City recently announced Classes will be virtual for the remainder of the semester due to widespread anti-Israel protests on campus.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Pritchett and Nicholas Lannum contributed to this report.
