Sarsour commencement speech draws fire
Opponents call on CUNY to rescind invitation
Despite mounting public pressure from elected officials and leaders of Jewish and Catholic organizations, the chancellor of the City University of New York (CUNY) is refusing to rescind an invitation for controversial Arab-American civil rights leader Linda Sarsour to serve as the guest speaker at the graduation ceremony for the Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy.
The graduation ceremony is set for Thursday, June 1. Sarsour, a political firebrand from Bay Ridge, was one of the organizers of the Women’s March on Washington, the massive protest demonstration that took place in the nation’s capitol the day after Donald Trump was inaugurated the 45th president of the U.S.
Sarsour is also the former executive director of the Arab-American Association of New York and has frequently spoken out on civil rights issues regarding the Middle Eastern community.