The University of Vermont has canceled UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s commencement address following demands from an anti-Israel campus group. The group, part of a larger movement across U.S. campuses, has made antisemitic demands and called for the destruction of Israel.
According to local NBC affiliate WPTZ, the students protested the ambassador’s speech due to her decisions regarding cease-fire efforts in the Middle East. A leader from the group “Students for Justice in Palestine” expressed satisfaction over the cancellation and hoped Thomas-Greenfield would not receive an honorary degree. The university conceded to the activists’ demands out of fear of protests during commencement and also agreed to disclose its investments.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a pioneering black female diplomat, has been honored by the State Department for her achievements in diplomacy. She was the first black female diplomat to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Liberia and has achieved several other distinctions in her career.
Joel B. Pollak, Senior Editor-at-Large at Truth Voices, provides further information about Thomas-Greenfield’s background and accomplishments in his author’s note at the end of the article.
