In a controversial move, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) barred Indian-American valedictorian and class president Megha Vemuri from participating in the graduation ceremony after she delivered a powerful pro-Palestine commencement speech. Vemuri had condemned MIT’s alleged complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza, suppression of student activism, and voiced unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, reported the Maktoob Media.
An official email sent by MIT Chancellor Melissa Nobles informed Vemuri that she was prohibited from attending the Commencement and barred from campus until 4 p.m. the same day. The message, which cited no specific reason, also stated that her graduation tickets had been deactivated.
Vemuri’s speech, which quickly went viral, drew both admiration and backlash. While supporters lauded her courage for speaking out, pro-Israeli social media accounts accused her of antisemitism and issued threats regarding her future career prospects.
The MIT Coalition Against Apartheid condemned the university’s action, stating, “The attack on Megha exposes the persistent silencing of pro-Palestine voices and the mounting pressure on MIT to end all military contracts with the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD).”
They also accused MIT of hypocrisy, pointing out that Vemuri had shared the stage with MIT President Sally Kornbluth and Corporation Chair Mark Gorenberg during the ceremony. Just moments earlier, President Kornbluth had proclaimed, “At MIT, we value freedom of expression”—a statement critics now call hollow, given that Vemuri was excluded from her own graduation the very next day for exercising that very right.
The Coalition further claimed that MIT currently receives funding from the Israeli Ministry of Defense to support AI-assisted killer drone technology.
This incident has ignited fresh debates about free speech on university campuses, especially regarding support for Palestine and criticism of Israel.
