The University of Michigan is under fire after a professor used a graduation ceremony to praise “pro-Palestinian student activists who have, over these past two years, opened our hearts to the injustice and inhumanity to Israel’s war in Gaza.”
UM Professor Derek Peterson thanks anti-Israel protestors for their actions over the past two years.
These signs were placed in hyper-progressive Ann Arbor, MI. The same town where I attended college.
— Corey Walker 🇺🇸 (@CoreyWriting) May 3, 2026
While this is terrible, I am glad that at least these people are going full mask-off with their hatred instead of hiding behind "anti-zionism isn't antisemitism" and other lies. pic.twitter.com/4lyWrS8HBL
Shame on the University of Michigan! We’ll see you soon. You can bet the house on it. https://t.co/jUxZkB4SwM
— LeoTerrell (@TheLeoTerrell) May 2, 2026
At today’s University of Michigan graduation, Professor Derek Peterson thanked anti-Israel protesters for 2 years of campus chaos.
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) May 2, 2026
Turning a commencement speech into a political rant like this is grounds for termination.
Sickening. pic.twitter.com/EcXqm4uU9r
While I wasn’t there yesterday to see it in person, what I have seen is incredibly troubling and disappointing. It is very difficult to execute meaningful consequences on tenured faculty but as a leader I can help set the tone and expectations for their conduct.
— Sarah Hubbard, Regent, University of Michigan (@RegentHubbard) May 3, 2026
His conduct was… https://t.co/sWykdIGQEs
Ann Arbor, MI - Drivers on Washtenaw Ave. were met with nauseating antisemitic signs reading "Resist Jewish Power" and "Jews Bomb Innocent Civilians."
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) May 3, 2026
What's driving this hate?
- Professors like Derek Peterson who used yesterday's UMichigan commencement speech to vilify Israel… pic.twitter.com/akPnMMOpyr
University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso condemned the remarks and apologized in a Saturday statement.
“At today’s U-M spring commencement ceremony, our outgoing Faculty Senate Chair made remarks regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict that were hurtful and insensitive to many members of our community," Grasso said. "We regret the pain this has caused on a day devoted to celebration and accomplishment. For this, the university apologizes."
The Faculty Senate Chair deviated from the remarks he had shared before the ceremony. The Chair’s comments were inappropriate and do not represent our institutional position. Nor do they represent the diversity of views across our entire faculty.
Everyone in our community is entitled to their own views; but this was neither the time nor the place. Commencement is a time of celebration, recognition and unity. The Chair’s remarks were expected to be congratulatory, not a platform for personal or political expression. Introducing such commentary in this setting was inappropriate and did not align with the purpose of the occasion.”
I completely agree. It’s unacceptable for any university professor to praise chaos that glorified America’s enemies, justified violence and terrorized Jewish students.
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) May 3, 2026
If this is what Americans are paying for, it’s time to cut them off COMPLETELY. https://t.co/rNoYzhnrYy
This is today’s Left.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 3, 2026
Openly bigoted. https://t.co/lR4zV5SI8P
The University of Michigan receives $1.17 billion in annual federal funding. It’s time to stop the funding all together. @POTUS @DOJCivil @SecScottBessent @howardlutnick @DonaldJTrumpJr https://t.co/gZGoBTCC6K
— 🇺🇸 Kyle Bass 🇹🇼 (@Jkylebass) May 2, 2026
If this professor is going to get political, why doesn’t he call out Islamic terrorists for mass murdering innocent civilians around the world, including Jews and Christian Nigerians? Why doesn’t he call out the terrorists who celebrated the return of Jewish babies in coffins?… https://t.co/tCmXN3THWy
— Leo Terrell (@LeoTerrellDOJ) May 3, 2026