A commencement speaker at California’s El Camino Community College landed in hot water over remarks many are slamming as “antisemitic” for an attempted takedown of Israel at the podium.
“I gift my graduation to all Palestinians who have lost their life and those who continue to lose their lives every day due to the oppressive apartheid state of Israel killing and torturing Palestinians as we speak,’’ 18-year-old Jana Abulaban said at the college’s graduation ceremony last Friday.
Abulaban, who identifies as a Palestinian woman, was born in Jordan and immigrated to the U.S. at age 12.
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She told The New York Post on Monday that she felt “inspired” by the controversially progressive speech delivered by CUNY Law School graduate and commencement speaker Fatima Mousa Mohammed, who made similar accusations about the country.
She said Mohammad’s “courage to speak up” was a key factor.
On Twitter, El Camino Community College caught flak for sharing an image from Abulaban’s address, along with a far less controversial quote than the ones garnering media attention.
“If I was told 7 years ago, as a Palestinian refugee stepping foot for the first time in this country, that one day I’ll be standing on this stage — I would not have believed it. I’m extremely thankful to have gotten to this point,’’ the caption quoted.
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Critics called out the school for allegedly promoting a student who spewed antisemitic vitriol, including some who demanded the institution’s public funding be reviewed.
“Yet another graduation speech is hijacked with false antisemitic rhetoric, this time at El Camino Community College, CA… El Camino received approx. $150 million in federal, state, and local tax dollars for the 2022-2023 school year according to its budget,” the…
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