The University of Vermont announced their commencement speaker would no longer be speaking as student protests over the ongoing war in Gaza continue.On Friday evening, UVM President Suresh Garimella sent a letter to the campus community saying Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield would no longer be making her scheduled appearance at this month’s commencement.Thomas-Greenfield is the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. UVM student protesters had listed the cancellation of her commencement speech as one of their key demands. She has overseen three votes for a cease-fire to war efforts in the Middle East, and has vetoed the measure each time.”Every time you see a headline of U.S. vetoes U.N. cease-fire resolution in the Security Council, it’s accompanied by a picture of her raising her hand for that veto that picture carries an immense amount of pain and trauma and suffering,” James, a student with the group Students for Justice in Palestine, said in an earlier interview with NBC5.Students told our reporter it would be painful to have Thomas-Greenfield on campus, especially after three Palestinian men were shot in Burlington just blocks from the school.”It speaks to the general tone deafness that the university administration has exhibited towards Palestinian students and Palestinian advocacy,” James said.Garimella issued the following statement regarding the decision to cancel Thomas-Greenfield’s appearance:”We are looking forward to the upcoming Commencement ceremonies and the opportunity to celebrate our 2024 UVM graduates. After their years of hard work and commitment to success, they deserve a weekend of ceremony and celebration befitting their accomplishment. It is with regret that I share that our planned speaker, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, will not be joining us to deliver the Commencement address.”
The University of Vermont announced their commencement speaker would no longer be speaking as student protests over the ongoing war in Gaza continue.
On Friday evening, UVM President Suresh Garimella sent a letter to the campus community saying Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield would no longer be making her scheduled appearance at this month’s commencement.
Advertisement
Thomas-Greenfield is the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. UVM student protesters had listed the cancellation of her commencement speech as one of their key demands. She has overseen three votes for a cease-fire to war efforts in the Middle East, and has vetoed the measure each time.
“Every time you see a headline of U.S. vetoes U.N. cease-fire resolution in the Security Council, it’s accompanied by a picture of her raising her hand for that veto that picture carries an immense amount of pain and trauma and suffering,” James, a student with the group Students for Justice in Palestine, said in an earlier interview with NBC5.
Students told our reporter it would be painful to have Thomas-Greenfield on campus, especially after three Palestinian men were shot in Burlington just blocks from the school.
“It speaks to the general tone deafness that the university administration has exhibited towards Palestinian students and Palestinian advocacy,” James said.
Garimella issued the following statement regarding the decision to cancel Thomas-Greenfield’s appearance:
“We are looking forward to the upcoming Commencement ceremonies and the opportunity to celebrate our 2024 UVM graduates. After their years of hard work and commitment to success, they deserve a weekend of ceremony and celebration befitting their accomplishment. It is with regret that I share that our planned speaker, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, will not be joining us to deliver the Commencement address.”
