Michigan Professor Condemned for Palestine Support

posted on: May 20, 2026

State of Palestine.png

Arab America / Londyn Sewell

Professor Praises Pro-Palestinian Student Activists During Commencement

The University of Michigan is facing backlash from several sides after a graduation speech turned into a political flashpoint over the war in Gaza. What began as a short section in a commencement address has now sparked arguments about free speech, university neutrality, student activism, and the role of politics at graduation ceremonies. 

The controversy started during the university’s spring commencement ceremony when Derek Peterson, a history and African American studies professor who was finishing his term as chair of the Faculty Senate, praised Pro-Palestinian student activists while speaking to graduates.

Peterson’s speech focused on people and movements that shaped the university’s history. He spoke about early women students, civil rights activism, and Moritz Levi, the university’s first Jewish professor, who joined the school in the late 1800s during a time when antisemitism limited opportunities for many Jewish academics and students.

Speech About Gaza Draws Applause and Criticism

While discussing student activism throughout the universities past, Peterson also mentioned Pro-Palestinian student protesters. He said the students had helped “open our hearts” to the suffering caused by Israel’s war in Gaza. The line received loud applause from many people in the crowd , but it also immediately drew criticism from others who felt that the remarks crossed a line during what was supposed to be a nonpolitical celebration.

Soon after the ceremony, University of Michigan interim president Domenico Grasso released a public apology. In his statement, Grasso said Peterson’s comments were “hurtful and insensitive” to some members of the university community. He added that commencement should be focused on celebrating students and not used as a platform for political views.

Grasso stressed that Peterson’s comments did not represent the university’s official position. The university has adopted a policy of “institutional neutrality”, which means the school itself does not take political positions on major world conflicts or social debates. That apology, however, created a second wave of controversy. 

Faculty and Supporters Defend Peterson’s Remarks

More than 1,100 faculty members, staff, students, and supporters signed an open letter criticizing Grasso’s response and defending Peterson’s speech. The letter argued that Peterson was speaking about the long history of student activism at the university, not making a personal political attack. Supporters said his comments fit naturally within a speech about students who challenged injustice throughout the school’s history. The letter also argued that the president’s apology itself may have violated the university’s neutrality policy by condemning one political viewpoint while distancing the administrations from Peterson’s remarks.

Supporters of Peterson pointed out that many students on campus have been personally affected by the war in Gaza. Some have family members living in the region or have relatives who suffered during the conflict. For those students, the protest became an important part of their college experience and a way to express their beliefs. Others strongly disagreed. 

Jewish Student Group Condemns Commencement Comments

Michigan Hillel, a Jewish student organization on campus, condemned Peterson’s comments, saying graduation ceremonies should unite students rather than divide them politically. The group argued that using commencement to praise one size of a deeply emotional conflict made some Jewish students and families feel excluded during an important milestone.

The critisism reflects a broader debate happening at colleges across the United States since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. Many campuses have seen protests, encampments, demonstrations, and heated disagreements between student groups supporting Palestinians and those supporting Israel. 

The University of Michigan has been one of the most active campuses in that debate. Pro-Palestinian protesters have organized encampmets and demonstration calling on the university to cut financial ties connected to israel. Some protests have remained peaceful, while others have led to tension, vandalism accusations, and disciplinary disputes. 

Universities Struggle With Politics at Graduation Ceremonies

Last year, several universities across the country disciplined students for political comments made during commencement speeches. Some schools even reduced or removed student speeches altogether to avoid disruptions or controversy during graduation ceremonies. What makes the Michigan situation different is that the comments came from a faculty leader rather than a student speaker.

Peterson later defended his remarks on social media, saying his comments were meant to recognize the long tradition of student activism at the university. He argued that student protest movements have historically pushed schools and society toward change, even when those movements were unpopular at the time.

Debate Raises Questions About Free Speech and Neutrality

Some professors who disagreed with the university’s apology still admitted they understood why the speech created controversy. Karla Goldman, a professor of Judaic Studies at Michigan, said she did not find Peterson’s words offensive but questioned whether making such remarks at graduation was worth the backlash it would clearly create. This now highlights a bigger question in itself… Can universities truly stay neutral during major political conflicts while also protecting free speech and student activism?

For some people, Peterson’s speech represented compassion and moral engagement. For others, it represented political messaging in a place where students and families simply wanted to celebrate graduation. The University of Michigan now finds itself caught between those competing views, with neither side ready to back down.