In response to the students’ protests in Gaza, Xavier University of Louisiana, a historically Black college in New Orleans, became the second institution to postpone the speech of UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
In response to criticism about Thomas-Greenfield’s voting record at the UN from students and the community, the university changed its mind about the commencement speaker.
Reynold Verret, the president of the university, made the announcement via email on Wednesday.
In the email, Verret stated, “Everyone’s goal is to have a commencement ceremony that appropriately honors the graduates and their achievements.” “The great majority of students desire an interruption-free commencement ceremony. That being said, we will not be having the commencement speaker as scheduled.
Thomas-Greenfield’s commencement speech was first announced by the school last Sunday. A petition calling for a new commencement speaker received nearly 1,800 signatures after the announcement of the speaker lineup on Sunday.
“Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield has consistently voted against a ceasefire in Gaza, which has led to the destruction of all 13 universities in Gaza, the death of over 30,000 people and the continued genocide in Gaza,” the petition claims. “Palestinians in Gaza borrow from the experiences of their American siblings during the Jim Crow era.”
In addition to asking the university to “end the politicization of our Commencement ceremony,” the student-led petition demanded that the commencement speaker “represents” the school’s mission statement.
Following the University of Vermont (UVM), it is the second school to make the choice.