Full Breakdown
University of Michigan Commencement Speech Sparks Controversy Over Pro-Palestinian Remarks
5/5/2026, 6:14:23 AM
Contested Commencement Remarks
On May 4 2026, outgoing Faculty Senate Chair Derek R. Peterson delivered the University of Michigan’s spring commencement address in Ann Arbor. After recalling historic campus activists, Peterson urged graduates to “sing for the pro-Palestinian student activists, who have over these past two years opened our hearts to the injustice and inhumanity of Israel’s war in Gaza.” The line drew applause from part of the audience and immediate criticism from university officials and external observers.
Historical and Campus Context
Student activism has long been highlighted in UMich ceremonies, from suffragist Sarah Burger (1858) to the Black Action Movement (1970s). Since the Oct 7, 2023 attacks in Israel, the campus has hosted repeated protests, vandalism, and a Department of Education Office for Civil Rights investigation into alleged antisemitic harassment. Regents’ homes—including those of Jordan Acker, Sarah Hubbard, and former president Sana Ono—have been targeted with graffiti, thrown objects, and makeshift graves.
Key Actors
- Derek R. Peterson – History and African-Studies professor, outgoing Faculty Senate chair.
- Domenico Grasso – University president, issued the official apology.
- Sarah Hubbard – Republican regent, criticized Peterson’s conduct.
- Michael Schostak & Lena Epstein – Republican regent candidates, issued a joint statement.
- Amir Makled – Democratic regent candidate, defended the speech as part of campus free-speech tradition.
- Students for Justice in Palestine Michigan (SAFE) – Student group that praised the remarks.
- Hillel Michigan & ADL Michigan – Jewish organizations that called the comments “deeply troubling.”
Timeline of Reactions
- May 4, 2026 – Peterson’s speech; applause followed by social-media furor.
- Later that day – President Grasso released a statement calling the remarks “hurtful and insensitive.”
- May 5 – UMich removed the commencement video from YouTube; Peterson posted the full clip on his own channel.
- May 6–7 – Regents Hubbard, Schostak, and Epstein posted criticism on X; petitions supporting and opposing Peterson circulated, gathering >1,000 signatures each.
- May 8 onward – University public-safety assigned 24-hour security to targeted regents; Peterson reported ~500 angry emails and 20 threatening calls.
Official Statements & Institutional Response
President Grasso emphasized that commencement “should be a moment of celebration, recognition and unity,” and that Peterson “deviated from the remarks he had shared before the ceremony.” The university pledged to review future commencement programming but announced no disciplinary action. Regent Hubbard called the speech “incredibly troubling and disappointing” and urged the Board to discuss lasting expectations for faculty conduct.
Criticism & Opposition
Republican regent candidates Schostak and Epstein argued that “commencement ceremonies exist to unite the university community… and should not become a stage for political activism.” Jewish groups, including Hillel Michigan and ADL Michigan, labeled the comments “inappropriate and divisive,” citing concerns that they alienated Jewish students. Several conservative commentators framed the remarks as an endorsement of “anti-Israel rhetoric.”
Support and Faculty Defense
More than 1,100 faculty, staff, alumni, and students signed an open letter demanding that Grasso retract his apology, asserting that the university’s neutrality policy was being applied unevenly. The letter praised Peterson’s “thoughtful, informed, instructive” remarks and warned that punitive action would undermine academic freedom.
On-the-Ground Impact
Vandalism of regents’ residences continued through June 2024, with graffiti, thrown objects, and makeshift graves. Threats against Peterson prompted 24-hour security for targeted officials. The campus encampment demanding divestment from companies linked to Israel remained in place, complicating daily navigation for students and staff.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact volume of threats: one report cites “nearly 500 angry emails and 20 threatening calls,” while another mentions “500 angry emails” without specifying calls. Peterson’s own account states he omitted the term “genocide” after university feedback, whereas some outlets note he never used the word. The status of the removed commencement video varies, with some sources confirming removal from YouTube and others indicating only a temporary takedown.
Verbatim Quotes
- “sing for the pro-Palestinian student activists, who have over these past two years opened our hearts to the injustice and inhumanity of Israel's war in Gaza.” — Derek R. Peterson, commencement speech
- “were hurtful and insensitive to many members of our community.” — Domenico Grasso, university president
- “incredibly troubling and disappointing.” — Sarah Hubbard, Regent (X post)
- “ “Commencement ceremonies exist to unite the university community around academic achievement, personal growth, and the promise of what comes next.” — Michael Schostak & Lena Epstein, joint statement
- “Allow me to add, if I may: "The idea that graduations should be apolitical is ridiculous.” — Derek R. Peterson, interview with CBS News
What’s Next
The university has formed a committee to review commencement protocols and will assess whether Peterson’s remarks warrant formal disciplinary measures. Ongoing civil-rights investigations and the campus encampment suggest that debates over free speech, antisemitism, and divestment will remain prominent on the UMich agenda throughout the academic year.
