University of Southern California nixes valedictorian speaker over antisemitism claims

A top US university cancels its plans for a graduation speech by a Muslim student over what it says are safety concerns, after pro-Israel groups criticized her selection.

Asna Tabassum, who has been attacked online for “antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric,” had been selected as the University of Southern California class valedictorian — an honorary role whose holder traditionally gives an address in front of up to 65,000 people.

But this week the university’s provost, Andrew Guzman, announced the May 10 ceremony would go ahead without the speech.

“Unfortunately, over the past several days, discussion relating to the selection of our valedictorian has taken on an alarming tenor,” Guzman says. “The intensity of feelings, fueled by both social media and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has grown to include many voices outside of USC and has escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security.”

Tabassum criticizes the decision, which she says is the result of the university “succumbing to a campaign of hate meant to silence my voice.”

A pro-Israel campus group, Trojans for Israel, opposed Tabassum’s selection, pointing to social media posts in which she called for the “complete abolishment” of Israel and said Zionism is a “racist settler-colonial ideology.”