Their high school graduation was ruined by COVID, now college has been wrecked by anti-Israel mob: Fury as USC CANCELS commencement event after Palestine protests

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Four years after the class graduating high school in 2020 saw their commencement exercises decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the same group of students are now seeing their college graduations marred by chaotic campus protest activity.

At the University of Southern California, administrators announced Thursday that the school's main stage commencement ceremony is canceled this year, ostensibly as a result of the extra time needed to process the large number of guests coming to campus who will be subjected to increased safety measures.

'We will not be able to host the main stage ceremony that traditionally brings 65,000 students, families, and friends to our campus all at the same time and during a short window from 8:30am to 10am,' read an announcement from the school dated April 25.

The decision follows days of unrest on the sunny SoCal campus in the wake of the cancelation of the class of 2024's valedictorian address, after the honor had been bestowed upon a Muslim student with explicitly anti-Israel views.

Fox News National Correspondent Bill Melugin pointed out on X that the graduating class 'likely didn't get a high school graduation during COVID in 2020, and now won't get a traditional college graduation.'

He called the reality for the graduating students, 'brutal.'

As unregulated, chaotic protests about the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war break out across American college campuses, USC has opted to account for potential disturbances to its planned graduation festivities by dialing back the number of large events held, and bulking up the amount of security on campus.

'Prior to entering commencement events, we will screen people and bags, using security measures similar to those for attending athletic events at the Coliseum and before entering many other large venues,' notes the school's most recent announcement.

A 'clear bag' policy will also be in effect.

The announcement arrives days after the cancelation of the school's valedictory address, which was slated to be delivered by pro-Palestinian student Asna Tabassum

As unregulated, chaotic protests about the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war break out across American college campuses, USC has opted to account for potential disturbances to its planned graduation festivities by dialing back the number of large events held, and bulking up the amount of security on campus

Last week, Provost Andrew Guzman wrote a letter to the university community about the cancelation of the valedictory address.

'While this is disappointing, tradition must give way to safety,' he said. 

'This decision is not only necessary to maintain the safety of our campus and students, but is consistent with the fundamental legal obligation - including the expectations of federal regulators - that universities act to protect students and keep our campus community safe.

'It applies the same values and criteria that we have used in the past to guide our actions. 

'In no way does it diminish the remarkable academic achievements of any student considered or selected for valedictorian. 

'To be clear: this decision has nothing to do with freedom of speech. There is no free- speech entitlement to speak at a commencement,' he wrote. 'The issue here is how best to maintain campus security and safety, period.'

Last week, Provost Andrew Guzman wrote a letter to the university community about the cancelation of the valedictory address. 'While this is disappointing, tradition must give way to safety,' he wrote

'Prior to entering commencement events, we will screen people and bags, using security measures similar to those for attending athletic events at the Coliseum and before entering many other large venues,' notes the school's most recent announcement

Guzman's note was precipitated by the decision to eliminate the valedictory address after Asna Tabassum had been selected to deliver it at the May 10 commencement ceremony.

Tabassum, a pro-Palestinian student who majored in biomedical engineering and minored in 'resistance to genocide,' was initially chosen to address her peers by USC faculty from a nearly 100 student applicants with GPAs of 3.98 or higher.

The decision to call off the speech was due, in some large part, to the students and others who sent letters to the administration accusing Tabassum of taking a 'swinging bat at over 10% of the USC student body' and mudslinging by calling Zionists racist settler-colonialists.

Tabassum's social media accounts expressed clear support for the Palestinian cause, including supporting pages that 'openly endorse' 'calls for "the complete abolishment of the state of Israel",' according to one letter sent to the administration.

It continued: 'As if the unqualified command for abolition of the State of Israel was unclear in any way, Ms. Tabassum's link (on her social media profiles) reinforces racism with another link, urging readers to "reject the hegemonic efforts to demand that Palestinians accept that Israel has a right to exist as a... Jewish state.'"

Four years after the class graduating high school in 2020 saw their commencement exercises decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the same group of students are now seeing their college graduations marred by chaotic campus protest activity

The valedictorian has since come out to say that she is not anti-Semitic, and that she refuses to back down: 'I stand by exactly what I stand by.'

A subsequent letter from 130 faculty members claimed that canceling her speech 'stifles open communication,' while dozens of student groups signed a separate letter saying they were 'outraged and ashamed' by the decision.