A community college student in California has been under a pro-Israel campaign after she gifted her graduation to Palestinians who Lose Lives by apartheid ‘Israel’.
In her graduation speech, El Camino community college student Jana Abulaban accused the Israeli occupation of killing and torturing Palestinians.
“If I was told seven years ago as a Palestinian refugee stepping foot for the first time in this country that one day I’ll be standing on this stage I would not have believed that. I’m extremely thankful to have gotten to this point. And I do want to acknowledge that I wouldn’t have been here without the help and support of many. So today I gift my graduation to my parents, to my grandparents, and to my ancestors who have sacrificed a lot for me,” she said during the graduation ceremony last Friday.
“I gift my graduation to all Palestinians who have lost their lives and continue to lose their lives every day due to the oppressive apartheid state of Israel.
Jana Abulaban advocates for the Palestinian people during her graduation at El Camino Community College in California,… pic.twitter.com/r2iXvGiynm
— MintPress News (@MintPressNews) June 12, 2023
Pro-Israeli groups took aim at Abulaban, with a movement called “StopAntisemitism” saying the graduation speech at El Camino Community College was “hijacked with false antisemitic rhetoric.”
In a statement Wednesday, Superintendent Brenda Thames condemned Abulaban’s speech, saying she was “not authorized to speak other than to introduce another speaker” and that she “took it upon herself to make an anti-Israel statement.”
“If I was told 7 years ago, as a Palestinian refugee stepping foot for the first time in this country, that one day I’ll be standing on this stage — I would not have believed it. I’m extremely thankful to have gotten to this point.”
Jana Abulaban
ASO President pic.twitter.com/28ivEfBYao— El Camino College (@elcaminocollege) June 10, 2023
Commenting on the campaign, Abulaban dismissed allegations of so-called “anti-semitism.”
“I felt the need to really shed light on the atrocities that Israel as an apartheid state is committing,” she told the New York Post. “This is very far away from being antisemitic. I would never disrespect a religion,” she added.
Abulaban said she was “inspired” by a City University of New York (CUNY) Law School student who delivered a speech about ‘Israel’ and white supremacy in late May.
“And I honestly feel inspired by her courage to speak up. We are only trying to speak up against what this oppressive government is doing,” she said.
Source: Websites
