Outraged critics are demanding CUNY’s billions of dollars in taxpayer funding be stripped away after a law grad delivered a “hate-filled and dangerous’’ commencement address ripping NYPD “fascists” and Israel.
In her vitriolic May 12 graduation speech at the public City University of New York’s law school, newly minted grad Fatima Mousa Mohammed called for a “revolution” to take on the legal system’s “white supremacy’’ while blasting city cops and the US military and claiming Israel carries out “indiscriminate” murder.
“This hate-filled and dangerous speech has been brought to you by @CUNY and paid for by New York taxpayers,” tweeted Simcha Eichenstein, a Democratic state assemblyman representing Brooklyn. “Keep this in mind next time our elected leaders highlight their commitment to fighting antisemitism.”
Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY) said, “Imagine being so crazed by hatred for Israel as a Jewish State that you make it the subject of your commencement speech at a law school graduation.
“Anti-Israel derangement syndrome at work.”
During her speech, Mohammed accused the school of having “self-serving interests” and said it “continues to fail us,” continues to “train and cooperate with the fascist NYPD, the military” and continues “to train [Israeli] soldiers to carry out that violence globally.”
She also called the US legal system “a manifestation of white supremacy that continues to oppress and suppress people in this nation and around the world.” She urged her classmates to continue the “revolution” to effect change, using their rage as “the fuel for the fight against capitalism, racism, imperialism and Zionism around the world.”
Mohammed was selected by the graduating class of 2023 to speak during their graduation ceremony.
Barry Grodenchik, a former Democratic city councilman, agreed with Rep. Torres’s assessment of Mohammed’s speech, writing “@RitchieTorres is spot on here.
“This hater can spout her hate where she pleases but it should not be at the publicly funded @CUNY school of law.
“Her antisemitism destroyed this commencement and it must be roundly condemned and should not have been sanctioned with public funds.”
Councilman Ari Kagan — who recently left the Democratic party and became a Republican — called the address a “vile anti-American & anti-Israel speech promoting hate.
“Totally unacceptable graduation speech for taxpayers funded institution. @CUNY & @CUNY Law should immediately condemn this hateful speech & take all steps necessary to address such dangerous rhetoric!” he wrote in a tweet.
CUNY’s 2023 budget amounted to about $4.3billion, according to the office of city Comptroller Brad Lander. Most of that funding comes from the state through its annual budget, although more than $600 million came from the city.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office did not respond to The Post’s request for comment Monday.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams — who was personally bashed by Mohammed in her speech at one point — said in a statement, “I was proud to offer a different message at this year’s CUNY law commencement ceremony — one that celebrates the progress of our city and country, and one that honors those who fight to keep us safe and protect our freedoms, like my uncle Joe, who died at age 19 in Vietnam while giving his life for our country.
“We cannot allow words of negativity and divisiveness to be the only ones our students hear.”
Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, a Brooklyn Republican, said the grad’s speech was a grave sign for what the future of law in the city might look like.
“If anyone had doubts on what’s going on at @CUNY, and if hearing we held did not convince you, here it is: Vile, unabashed hatred for America, Israel, NYPD, & democracy,” she tweeted. “I can’t imagine sitting in the audience as a graduate. These are NYC’s future lawyers. @CUNY any comment?”
A CUNY rep told The Post in a statement Monday, “Members of the Class of 2023 selected student speakers who offered congratulatory remarks and their own individual perspectives on advocating for social justice.
“As with all such commencement remarks, they reflect the voices of those individuals.”
