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Over 2000 UMich students, staff, alumni back professor for praising anti-Israel activists

From Jerusalem Post · (8m ago) English Mixed tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Over 2,000 University of Michigan students, staff, and alumni have signed letters supporting a professor who praised anti-Israel activists in his commencement speech.
  • The supporters are demanding the university president withdraw his criticism of Professor Derek Peterson and restore the speech recording, which was initially removed from YouTube.
  • The letters argue that Peterson's speech, which highlighted the work of activists raising awareness about the Gaza war, falls under protected free speech and that its deletion was an act of censorship.

At the University of Michigan, a significant outcry has emerged from students, staff, and alumni in defense of Professor Derek Peterson, who faced criticism from university President Domenico Grasso for his commencement speech. The Jerusalem Post notes that over 2,000 individuals have signed letters demanding Grasso retract his criticism and reinstate the full recording of Peterson's speech, which was initially removed from the university's YouTube channel.

go out there and make good trouble.

— Derek PetersonAdvice to recent graduates, shared on X/Twitter.

The supporters argue that Professor Peterson's remarks, which lauded anti-Israel student activists and their efforts to raise awareness about the Gaza war, constitute protected free speech. They contend that the removal of the speech was an act of censorship and that President Grasso's response chilled academic expression. The letters emphasize the "moral injury" felt by many at UMich due to the war and the US's support for Israel, highlighting the personal impact of the conflict.

Sing for the pro-Palestinian student activists, who have, over these past two years, opened our hearts to the injustice and inhumanity of Israel’s war in Gaza.

— Derek PetersonExcerpt from his commencement speech.

This situation underscores a broader tension on American campuses regarding free speech, academic freedom, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While the university administration, represented by President Grasso, appears to be navigating a difficult political landscape, the overwhelming support for Professor Peterson from within the university community signals a strong defense of faculty speech. Organizations like the American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of Teachers have also weighed in, condemning any "campaign of political pressure and public intimidation" against Peterson and calling for the university to uphold academic freedom. The university's eventual restoration of the YouTube video, following criticism, suggests a partial concession, but the underlying debate about the boundaries of acceptable discourse on campus remains.

Professor Peterson’s comments - measured, principled, and clearly situated within a broader call to recognize those who work to advance justice - fall squarely within the protected sphere of faculty speech.

— AAUP and AFTStatement from the American Association of University Professors and American Federation of Teachers.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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