Main graduation ceremony at USC canceled amid protests

IN WESTWOOD CARLOS KTLA, 5 OK CARLOS THANK YOU ONE OF THE FLASHPOINTS HAS BEEN AT USC AND TODAY THE UNIVERSITY TOOK DRASTIC ACTION BY CANCELING THE MAIN STAGE COMMENCEMENT KTLA IS CHRIS WOLFE IS LIVE WITH MORE ON THE IMPACT ON THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS THERE CHRIS. IT'S RIDE SHARE MY CAT USC IS THE FIRST KNOWN MAJOR UNIVERSITY TO DO THIS. >> TO CANCEL A GRADUATION CEREMONY OVER THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR DEMONSTRATIONS. POSSIBLY LEADING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT IS SENDING SHOCK WAVES THROUGH THE HALLS OF THIS WELL-KNOWN INSTITUTION. >> USC IS CANCELING ITS MAIN STAGE GRADUATION CEREMONY ALTOGETHER. THE UNIVERSITY-WIDE MAY 10TH EVENT WAS EXPECTED TO DRAW 65,000 PEOPLE TO ALUMNI PARK NOW THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN. SENIOR DAVID FUENTES IS GRADUATING WITH A DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE. SO THE FOR THE UNIVERSITY'S PUNISHING ALL THE GRADUATES FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS JUST NOT EVEN MAINLY STUDENTS AND PEOPLE FROM OTHER. PARTS OF LA JUST COMING THEY GRADUATED EVERYONE TO THE WORK I THINK WE SHOULD BE MAKING GRADUATION POLITICAL ON EITHER SIDE. AND I WANT EVERYTHING TO GO SMOOTHLY BECAUSE YOU KNOW THESE KIDS DEFINITELY DESERVE THEIR DEGREE THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MUSLIM LIFE AT USC HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE THURSDAY. >> NEARLY A DOZEN MEMBERS HAVE RESIGNED FROM THE GROUP CLAIMING USC SUPPRESSES FREE SPEECH AND THEY'RE REACTING TO THE CANCELLATION OF THE MAIN GRADUATION CEREMONY. I THINK MOST OF ARE DISMAYED AND DISAPPOINTED BY THIS DECISION THAT IT IS A FURTHER ESCALATION OF SUPPRESSING FREE SPEECH ON CAMPUS. >> CONFLICT IS SWIRLING AROUND THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR AND USC'S RECENT DECISION TO CANCEL THE COMMENCEMENT SPEECH OF ITS VALEDICTORIAN A MUSLIM WOMAN NAMED US NOT TO BASAM, WHO CRITICS SAY IS SPREADING ANTI ISRAEL SENTIMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THE LAPD ARRESTED NEARLY 100 PEOPLE WEDNESDAY. DURING A PRO-PALESTINIAN DEMONSTRATION ON CAMPUS. BRINGING CONTROVERSY TO GRADUATIONS IT'S A DAY OF CELEBRATION, NOT. >> A DAY OF CONTROVERSY AND CONFLICT. SO IT'S JUST A NO-WIN SITUATION HONESTLY. >> AND WE SHOULD NOTE ALL THE SMALLER GRADUATION CEREMONIES WILL STILL TAKE PLACE AT THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES HERE

Channel: KTLA 5

Views: 13,422

Keywords: video, news

Id: Tj7iDSqI3cs

Length: 2min 37sec (157 seconds)

Published: Fri Apr 26 2024