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0 A CUNY Law professor who has previously complained about the university’s alleged anti-Semitism says the entire place is being run by a faculty of ‘far left, Marxist lunatics.’
The comments come after a shocking commencement speech on May 12 by pro-Palestine law graduate Fatima Mousa Mohammed, who accused Israelis of ‘settler colonialism’ and called for ‘rage’ to tackle the ‘fascist NYPD’.
It was the second year in a row the school – one of the largest in New York City, which receives more than half its funding from government – allowed such pro-Palestine, anti-Israel remarks at the graduation ceremony.
The 2022 speaker was activist Nerdeen Kiswani, who made similarly fired-up comments.
CUNY’s Board of Trustees finally denounced the speech today in a statement after growing calls for the school to lose its funding.
It is yet to explain why the remarks were approved in the first place.
‘Free speech is precious, but often messy, and is vital to the foundation of higher education. Hate speech, however, should not be confused with free speech and has no place on our campuses or in our city, our state or our nation.
Fatima Mousa Mohammed was chosen by her classmates as the 2023 commencement speaker at CUNY Law’s graduation ceremony on May 12. Her remarks about Israel, Palestine, the NYPD and the Armed Forces sparked uproar
The CUNY Board of Trustees today denounced the remarks as hate speech after furious backlash
‘The remarks by a student-selected speaker at the CUNY Law School graduation, unfortunately, fall into the category of hate speech as they were a public expression of hate toward people and communities based on their religion, race or political affiliation.
‘The Board of Trustees of the City University of New York condemns such hate speech.
Professor Jeffrey Lax, who has taught at CUNY for the last 20 years, told DailyMail.com in an interview that the whole school was being run by ‘left wing lunatics’, and that someone had to have approved the remarks
‘This speech is particularly unacceptable at a ceremony celebrating the achievements of a wide diversity of graduates, and hurtful to the entire CUNY community, which was founded on the principle of equal access and opportunity,’ the board said.
Professor Jeffrey Lax, who has taught at CUNY for the last 20 years, told DailyMail.com in an interview that the whole school was being run by ‘left wing lunatics’, and that someone had to have approved the remarks.
‘I have never heard of a commencement speech not being reviewed [by staff].
‘Of course you have to look at it, regardless of whether or not you believe the student may say something inflammatory, you have to look at it first.’
He has complained about anti-Semitism in the past, and says students have also confided in him about fearing alienation or even retribution if don’t follow a hardcore, left-wing political ideology.
‘The faculty are all lunatics. The unbelievable far left who are pushing for the end of America,’ Professor Lax said.
CUNY’s 2023 Operating Budget Request revealed the university receives $2.8billion from the three levels of government
He blames much of what he calls an anti-Semitic rhetoric on the The Professional Staff Congress or (PSC CUNY), the teacher’s union which many faculty are a part of.
‘The union is a Marxist organization and Marx wasn’t just a communist… he was anti-Judaism.
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez
‘Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between what he said and what Hitler said.’
Professor Lax has complained of anti-Semitism in the past, particularly against the school’s adoption of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement (BDS) – something Fatima praised it for in her remarks.
The movement ‘works to end international support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law.’
CUNY Law endorsed it last year to great controversy.
SAFE CUNY, an organization which Lax is part of, complained to state regulators and the school was placed under investigation earlier this year.
The outcome of that investigation is yet to emerge.
Professor Lax claims the last two years have been a ‘living hell’ for him, but he refuses to quit.
‘I’m the grandchild of Holocaust survivors… I feel a deep and profound duty to fight this. I’m not going to walk away.
‘I get complaints about this all the time, there are open or outwardly Jewish kids who have come to me, but it’s not just that.
‘There are, no question, students who hide their position on politics,’ he said.
CUNY is yet to respond to his criticism.
Outrage: Many are calling for CUNY to lose the billions it receives in funding
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
