Tell USC To Reinstate Muslim Valedictorian's Speech, Reject Anti-Palestinian and Anti-Muslim Hate

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Tell USC To Reinstate Muslim Valedictorian's Speech, Reject Anti-Palestinian and Anti-Muslim Hate

USC canceled Asna Tabassum's valedictorian speech after she received a wave of hate online for supporting Palestine.

On Tuesday, April 6, the University of Southern California (USC) Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism announced on social media that USC student Asna Tabassum was selected as valedictorian for the class of 2024. Shortly after the announcement, she began receiving harassment online from a social media account called 'We Are Tov,' which reportedly launched a dishonest and defamatory attack against Asna and created a petition calling on USC to remove her from the position of valedictorian.

USC released a statement on Monday, April 15, stating that while Asna would retain the title of valedictorian, she would not be allowed to speak during the commencement ceremony due to the hate campaign against her "to maintain the safety of our campus and students."

For what may be the first time in USC history, the school's commencement ceremony will not include a speech from its valedictorian. This decision to cancel Asna's speech empowers voices of hate, violates USC's obligation to protect its students, and sends a terrible message to not only Muslim students at USC but all students who dare to express support for Palestinian humanity.

TAKE ACTION

Urge the USC administration to reverse their decision to cancel Asna Tabassum’s valedictorian speech and to resist caving into anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate.

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USC Administration

Subject: Restore Speech of Valedictorian Asna Tabassum, Reject Anti-Palestinian and Anti-Muslim Hate

Message:

I am deeply concerned to learn that the University of Southern California has canceled the planned graduation speech of USC student and Class of 2024 valedictorian Asna Tabassum in response to dishonest and defamatory attacks launched by anti-Palestinian extremists.

As you know, Asna is an incredibly accomplished student whose academic and extracurricular accomplishments made her the ideal and historic recipient of this year's valedictorian's honor. The bigoted attacks on Asna are nothing more than thinly veiled manifestations of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism, which have been weaponized against college students across the country who speak up for human rights.

USC must stand by Asna Tabassum. Even though USC has maintained Asna's position as valedictorian, the unprecedented decision to cancel her speech empowers voices of hate, violates USC's obligation to protect its students, and sends a terrible message to both Muslim students at USC and all students who dare to express support for Palestinian humanity.

We call on USC to immediately reverse course, restore her speech, and treat all students fairly and justly, starting with Asna. We look forward to your swift response.

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