MIT Bans Megha Vemuri, Family After Palestine Speech at Commencement

MIT Bans Student After Palestine Speech

Indian-American student, Megha Vemuri, and her family were barred from MIT's commencement ceremony following a speech in support of Palestine. Vemuri, a class president, used her platform to address the issue, leading to the ban.

The Ban and MIT's Reasoning

MIT Chancellor Melissa Nobles stated that Vemuri had violated the institute's rules regarding campus expression. In an email, Nobles accused Vemuri of misleading organizers and disrupting the ceremony. "Participation in Commencement activities is a privilege," Nobles wrote, adding that Vemuri's actions violated MIT's time, place, and manner rules.

Vemuri's Response and Student Protests

Vemuri responded that the ban was an "overreach." Following the ban, protests erupted, disrupting Nobles' speech. Students chanted in opposition to MIT's decision.

Vemuri's Speech

In her speech, Vemuri criticized MIT's ties with Israel, accusing the institution of being complicit in the "ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people." She stated, "You have faced the obstacle of fear before and you turned it into fuel to stand up for what is right. You showed the world that MIT wants a free Palestine," eliciting loud cheers from the audience.