Rutgers University Withdraws Graduation Speaker Invitation Over Speaker’s Criticism of Israel

Rutgers University has withdrawn an invitation for a business leader and alumnus to speak at its School of Engineering graduation ceremony after some students objected to the speaker’s criticism of Israel on social media. The individual had been selected to give the May 15 convocation address.

A university spokesperson said the invitation was rescinded after officials learned that some graduating students would not attend their graduation ceremony due to concerns about the invited speaker’s social media posts. The spokesperson declined to specify the posts in question but confirmed they focused on Israel.

The speaker did not respond to a request for comment.

The speaker has frequently shared news articles and footage of violence in Gaza and the West Bank, accompanied by commentary accusing Israel of committing war crimes and maintaining a system of apartheid. The speaker also served as executive producer of the documentary “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” which concerns a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli Defense Forces.

The cancellation occurs during the spring commencement season, which has again brought attention to debates over student protests against the war in Gaza. Such protests have affected multiple U.S. campuses in recent years and resulted in canceled speeches and disruptions at graduation events.

Earlier this week, the University of Michigan publicly disavowed a commencement speech by a history professor that briefly praised pro-Palestinian student activists. That speech prompted threats from Republican officials and donors to withdraw funding, citing concerns about a hostile environment for Jewish students.

The university president later issued an apology that drew criticism from academic and free-speech groups. On Tuesday, the Rutgers speaker shared a clip of the Michigan professor’s speech on X with the caption: “Most people choose convenience. Professor Peterson chose principle.