Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, made a bold statement, that’s likely to get pushback from other Dems, during his commencement speech at Yeshiva University in New York on Wednesday.
The 54-year-old senator expressed his deep disappointment with Harvard University’s response to events that took place on October 7th, which he felt showed a lack of support for the Jewish community.
In a powerful moment during his address, Fetterman removed his Harvard University academic hood, declaring, “Personally, I do not fundamentally believe that it is right for me to wear this today.”
His actions were met with a standing ovation from the audience, according to reports on social media.
Fetterman, known for his outspoken pro-Israel views, has been vocal in his criticism of pro-Palestine encampments on college campuses.
To a standing ovation, Senator John Fetterman removed his Harvard Crimson hood during commencement today in outrage over the rampant antisemitism here on campus. This is what true leadership looks like!
🎥 @safier pic.twitter.com/2nSG1liuja— Shabbos Kestenbaum (@ShabbosK) May 29, 2024
During his speech, he acknowledged the ease with which he could take a stand on this issue, given his position as a senator. “There’s nothing brave about what I’m doing. It’s actually been very easy, for lack of a better word, because of what they did on October 7th,” he said.
The senator went on to emphasize that his perspective on the matter was not one of a soldier in Gaza or an innocent Palestinian caught in the middle of the conflict, but rather that of an elected official with a platform to express his views. “I’m just a senator, and I have my position and my voice, and that’s just been with Israel,” Fetterman stated.
Senator Fetterman dancing to “Geshmak to be a Yid” together with Rav Schachter and @AriBermanYU pic.twitter.com/b07fsEUYyB
— Dovi Safier (@safier) May 29, 2024
Fetterman’s decision to remove his Harvard academic hood serves as a symbolic gesture, highlighting his disappointment with the institution’s response to events that he believes should have prompted a stronger show of support for the Jewish community.
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As the speech concluded, the audience’s standing ovation served as a testament to the impact of Fetterman’s message and the courage he displayed in taking a firm stance on the Israeli-Hamas conflict.
