NYU withholds diploma from graduation speaker who called Israel’s actions in Gaza ‘genocide’

Logan Rozos, a 24-year-old who is self-described as an “actor, artist, and gay black trans man,” made the remarks Wednesday while addressing graduates of NYU’s Gallatin School. Rozos was selected by fellow students to deliver the graduation address.

During the speech, Rozos criticized the ongoing conflict in Gaza and US support for Israel, saying, “My moral and political commitments guide me to say that the only thing that is appropriate to say in this time, and to a group this large, is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine.”

Rozos continued, “The genocide currently occurring is supported politically and militarily by the United States, is paid for by our tax dollars, and has been live-streamed to our phones for the past 18 months... I condemn this genocide and complicity in this genocide.”

Following the speech, NYU issued a statement apologizing for Rozos' remarks and confirmed that the university would be withholding his diploma.

“He lied about the speech he was going to deliver and violated the commitment he made to comply with our rules. The University is withholding his diploma while we pursue disciplinary actions,” said spokesman John Beckman.

“NYU strongly denounces the choice by a student at the Gallatin School's graduation today—one of over 20 school graduation ceremonies across our campus—to misuse his role as student speaker to express his personal and one-sided political views,” the spokesman continued. “NYU is deeply sorry that the audience was subjected to these remarks and that this moment was stolen by someone who abused a privilege that was conferred upon him.”

The Anti-Defamation League of New York and New Jersey also weighed in, saying it was “appalled” by the fact that a graduation speaker “altered their approved speech to make divisive and false comments about the current Israel/Hamas war.”

“We are thankful to the NYU administration for their strong condemnation and their pursuit of disciplinary action,” the group stated.