UMass Amherst commencement speaker withdraws after protester arrests

UMass Amherst’s scheduled commencement speaker this year will no longer deliver the address after protesters were arrested this week. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead said the school’s decision to call the police on “peaceful protesters” was shameful. He added that he prays for the safety of the Palestinian people. More than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested as police worked to disperse the camp. “The demonstrators rejected our offers for further civil dialogue to bridge our differences and refused to disperse their camp “Although we have told the demonstrators that failure to remove the tents and barriers could lead to arrests, this is not the case the outcome we were hoping for,” UMass Chancellor Javier Reyes said after the arrests. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for next weekend.

AMHERST, Mass. –

UMass Amherst’s scheduled commencement speaker this year will no longer deliver the address after protesters were arrested this week.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead said the school’s decision to call the police on “peaceful protesters” was shameful. He added that he prays for the safety of the Palestinian people.

Susan Walsh

More than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested as police worked to disperse the camp.

“The protesters rejected our offers for further civil dialogue to bridge our differences and refused to disperse their camp. “We told the demonstrators that there could be arrests if the tents and barriers were not removed, but that is not the outcome we were hoping for.” That’s what UMass Chancellor Javier Reyes said after the arrests.

Opening ceremonies are scheduled for next weekend.