In this case, the Hamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has a point: CUNY is a gang of sleazy hypocrites. But at the same time, Fatima Mohammed’s speech was indeed hateful, and deserving of condemnation, although it is well within today’s academic mainstream.
“America’s largest Muslim advocacy group slams CUNY leadership for being ‘dishonest’ for calling law grad’s speech where she called for attacks on cops ‘hateful’ – and school APPROVED it in advance,” by Neirin Gray Desai, Daily Mail, June 8, 2023:
America’s largest Muslim advocacy group has hit back at the City University of New York for turning on its own student.
During her graduation speech in May, CUNY law graduate Fatima Mohammed called the NYPD ‘fascist’ and accused the Israelis of ‘settler colonialism’ – causing the university to later accuse her of ‘hate speech’.
Now, the Council on American-Islamic Relations in New York, CAIR-NY, has accused the university of being ‘dishonest, cowardly, and dangerous’ in its decision to condemn Mohammed.
It also undermined the university by claiming that it pre-approved the speech and only turned on Mohammed after two weeks of sour reaction from ‘far-right media’ and ‘Mayor Eric Adams’.
Mohammed also said during her controversial speech that black and brown prisoners are murdered daily in US jails, and turned on her own university for ‘cooperating with global violence.’
Soon after her speech New York Mayor Eric Adams condemned Mohammed for her ‘negativity and divisiveness’.
Within two weeks of the graduation ceremony, on May 30, CUNY’s chancellor and board of trustees released a statement that condemned Mohammed’s address as ‘hate speech’ and said her comments ‘were a public expression of hate toward people and communities based on their religion, race or political affiliation’.
CAIR-NY’s executive director Afaf Nasher wrote in a statement that the group ‘strongly condemns the City University of New York (CUNY) for joining dishonest, cowardly, and dangerous attacks on their own student leader, Fatima Mohammed, who has been relentlessly harassed by far-right media, Mayor Eric Adams, and multiple members of Congress and City Council.
‘As an institution of higher education, CUNY has a responsibility to protect its students, even in the face of disagreement or discomfort, and its failure to do so is unacceptable.’
‘Fatima’s speech was submitted, examined, and pre-approved by CUNY in written form and a verbal recording. Furthermore, the speech was celebrated by the audience,’ said Nasher.
‘CUNY student leaders, including the Jewish Law Students Association, have spoken up in her defense. Moreover, CUNY’s mischaracterization of Fatima’s speech as ‘hate speech’ is false and defamatory.’
Mohammed’s speech was the second time in two years that CUNY, which receives more than half its funding from government – allowed pro-Palestine, anti-Israel remarks at the graduation ceremony.
The 2022 speaker was activist Nerdeen Kiswani, who made similarly fired-up comments….
PRCS says
1. CUNY was dishonest, cowardly, and further endangered our nation by approving what they would have known–had they actually read her speech–was hateful.
2. Per the CAIR ‘rep’: ‘As an institution of higher education, CUNY has a responsibility to protect its students, even in the face of disagreement or discomfort, and its failure to do so is unacceptable.’
As a publicly funded institution is also has a responsibility to comply with applicable Federal, State and local laws (i.e., preventing speech which expresses ‘hate toward people and communities based on their religion, race or political affiliation’.)
No doubt that newly minted lawyer will work toward replacing our secular, man-made laws with Islamic law.
David Grisez says
One thing that is certain is that the Council on American Islamic Relations CAIR being a muslim organization was in full agreement with the speech given by Fatima Muhammed who is also a muslim.
Westman says
And next year’s CUNY speaker of love toward Israel and the US will be Rashida Talib or Ilhan Omar?
Noah Andeark says
CAIR is a terror organization. Its officers, members, and supporters are terrorists. They should be treated as terrorists.
norman says
I agree with you. CAIR is made up of would be terrorists. They are Muslim fascists and a cancer in society.. They need to be treated as a enemy of the country.