The Jewish Federation of Detroit condemns the actions of a University of Michigan faculty member who broke protocol to use the Spring Commencement—a celebratory event intended to honor students’ achievements—as a platform to deliver a political statement against Israel.
These remarks were deeply insensitive and hurtful to Jewish students and their loved ones, including graduates who have faced years of harassment, intimidation and acts of hate on campus simply for being Jewish or expressing connection to Israel. At a moment when tensions are already high, the remarks only served to contribute to an environment in which Jewish students feel targeted and unsafe.
We are grateful to University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso for speaking out clearly and unequivocally. We look forward to concrete steps from the University to ensure that incidents like this cannot happen again, and that Jewish students at the University of Michigan are free to pursue their education without political bias or coercion.