At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) graduation ceremony, Megha Vemuri, an American student of Andhra Pradesh origin and the president of the Class of 2025, delivered a strongly-worded pro-Palestine speech, drawing both praise and criticism.
Wearing a red keffiyeh during her address, Vemuri denounced MIT’s affiliations with Israel, accusing the institute of being “complicit in genocide.”
She called on MIT to sever all research ties with the Israeli military, describing it as “the only foreign military MIT is affiliated with.”
“You have faced the obstacle of fear before, and you turned it into fuel to stand up for what is right,” Vemuri told her fellow graduates. “You showed the world that MIT wants a free Palestine.”
Referencing student activism on campus, she said, “Last spring, MIT’s undergraduate body and graduate student union voted overwhelmingly to cut ties with the genocidal Israeli military.” Vemuri further alleged that students who supported the pro-Palestine cause were subjected to suppression and threats by university administrators.
The speech comes at a time when pro-Palestinian activism on U.S. campuses is under increased federal scrutiny.
Institutions like Harvard and Columbia have faced backlash for failing to curb what some officials label as rising antisemitism.
There have also been reports of student detentions and deportations, including two Indian nationals, Ranjani Srinivasan and Badar Khan Suri, over their alleged involvement in pro-Palestine protests.
Criticizing MIT’s past disciplinary actions, Vemuri highlighted the banning of a student-run pro-Palestinian magazine and disciplinary measures taken against its editors.
“It is a shame that MIT is a part of [Israel's actions],” she said, urging her alma mater to cut ties and support peace efforts instead. “As scientists, engineers, academics, and leaders, we have a responsibility to support life, aid efforts, and call for an arms embargo.”
Born and raised in the United States to parents from Andhra Pradesh, Megha Vemuri holds degrees in Computer Science, Neuroscience, and Linguistics from MIT.
According to her LinkedIn profile, she co-founded Forte Promotions in 2019, and worked as an undergraduate research assistant at both the MIT Media Lab and the McGovern Institute for Brain Research. She completed her high school education at Alpharetta High School in Georgia.
A video of her speech quickly went viral on social media, sparking heated debate. While some praised her for speaking out, others criticized her for politicizing a graduation ceremony. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote:
“The commencement stage, meant to honour years of hard work, was hijacked by the class president’s hateful, divisive drivel — spewing woke nonsense that props up terrorists.”
The incident has once again brought the growing divide on U.S. campuses over the Israel-Palestine issue into sharp focus.
