The dean of a New York law department who earlier this month applauded a graduate’s “hate-filled” opening speech, attacked the “fascist NYPD” and condemned Israel previously created a series of “anti-racist” courses at another university, it originated .
Sudha Setty, the dean of law at the City University of New York (CUNY), sat on stage and applauded on May 12 as Fatima Mousa Mohammed delivered her speech.
Mohammed, a Yemeni-born law student, accused the Israelis of “colonialism” and called for “anger” to take on the “fascist NYPD.”
Eric Adams, the mayor of New York, condemned Mohammed for her “negativity and division.”
Mohammed said she chose CUNY because it was one of “few legal institutions … that recognize that the law is a manifestation of white supremacy that continues to oppress and oppress people in this country and around the world.”
Fatima Mousa Mohammed was chosen by her classmates as the 2023 kick-off speaker at CUNY Law’s graduation ceremony on May 12. Her remarks about Israel, Palestine, the NYPD and the armed forces caused an uproar
Sudha Setty, the dean of CUNY law school since 2022, applauded Mohammed’s speech
Setty is seen on stage on May 12 as Mohammed bows
Mohammed continued: “The joy and excitement that fills the room: may it fuel the struggle against capitalism, racism, imperialism and Zionism around the world.
Systems of oppression created to feed an empire with a ravenous appetite for destruction and violence.
“Institutions created to intimidate, bully and censor and suppress the voices of those who resist.”
Setty was seen applauding Muhammad’s comments – which the CUNY board of trustees condemned as “hate speech” and “hurtful to the entire CUNY community.”
It now appears that Setty has launched a series of “anti-racism” courses at her former university, in Massachusetts.
Setty served as a faculty member at Western New England University’s law school for 12 years, then led the department as dean for four more years.
She advocated the introduction of the “Antiracism and Cultural Competence” graduation requirement for university students, according to The New York Post.
Passed by the law school in April 2021, the graduation requirement included courses titled “Race, Racism & the Law” and “Business Law from an Antiracist Perspective.”
Setty, who assumed the role of CUNY dean in the fall of 2022, told the student newspaper she wanted to “promote more leaders doing important social justice work in law.”
Setty said, “At CUNY, that mission is social justice and addressing the structural barriers to justice that exist in so many contexts.
“Being part of that effort is a gift, and I come to this work with gratitude.”
Mohammed’s speech marked the second year in a row that the school — one of the largest in New York City, which receives more than half of its funding from the government — allowed such pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel remarks at its graduation ceremony.
The speaker in 2022 was activist Nerdeen Kiswani, who made similar excited comments.
CUNY’s Board of Trustees ultimately denounced the speech in a statement following growing calls for the school to lose its funding.
Born in Yemen, Mohammed used her speech to rail against the NYPD, capitalism and Israel
The CUNY Board of Trustees today denounced the comments as hate speech following angry backlash
It remains to be explained why the comments were approved in the first place.
‘Freedom of expression is precious, but often messy, and essential for the foundations of higher education’, according to the curators.
“However, hate speech should not be confused with freedom of speech and has no place on our campuses or in our city, state or country.”
“The comments made 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 hatred against people and communities based on their religion, race or political beliefs.
The City University of New York Board of Trustees condemns such hate speech.
“This speech is deeply unacceptable in a ceremony celebrating the achievements of a wide variety of graduates, and offensive to the entire CUNY community, which was founded on the principle of equal access and opportunity.”