The Hamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is a fascist organization that energetically opposes all opposition to jihad violence and Sharia oppression of women, no matter how tepid and poorly focused (as is Rushdie’s).
“Salman Rushdie pulls out as Claremont McKenna College graduation speaker,” by Arianna Clay, Los Angeles Daily News, May 13, 2025:
Novelist Salman Rushdie has decided not to deliver the graduation speech for Claremont McKenna College, pulling out days before the Saturday, May 17, commencement.
The decision follows criticism from Muslim advocacy groups and students.
Rushdie, an Indian-born British and American author known for writing about religion and politics, has drawn controversy before, including receiving death threats in the 1980s for his novel, “The Satanic Verses.”
“I write with news that Sir Salman Rushdie notified us yesterday of his decision to withdraw as our keynote commencement speaker,” Claremont McKenna President Hiram Chodosh wrote in a campus-wide email provided Tuesday, May 13, by the Claremont Colleges Muslim Students Association.
“This decision was his alone and completely beyond our control,” Chodosh wrote. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to Sir Salman’s visit to CMC and have extended an open invitation to him to speak on our campus in the future.”
Kumail Afshar, co-president of the Muslim students group, welcomed the news.
“I’m surprised, relieved and happy,” Afshar said after learning Tuesday that Rushdie had withdrawn….
The Muslim student group criticized the college’s choice of Rushdie in a Friday, May 2, statement, calling it “disrespectful” and out of step with Claremont McKenna’s commitment to inclusion.
On Wednesday, May 7, the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a news release that Rushdie has “made troubling statements about Islam and Palestine.”…
Afshar said Tuesday that students sent emails, met with administrators, and spoke to news outlets to make their concerns known. Tuesday’s email from the college was the first response the group had seen after a week of trying to get a reply from school administrators, Afshar said.
The group’s Wednesday, May 7, Instagram post stated that Rushdie’s selection “has sparked concern and disappointment among many Muslim students.” That post also called on others to speak out, urging the campus to consider “a more thoughtful approach to who we choose to platform.”
“I don’t know exactly why he pulled out, but I wouldn’t discount the fact that our students were so loud in expressing our disappointment in this choice,” Afshar said….
Hugh Fitzgerald says
“inclusion” ought to mean that even critics or mockers of Islam can be “included.” Muslim stormtroopers screamed, and threatened, and got their way. Rushdie cancelled. Non-Muslim students should take note of this fascist determination to silence anyone deemed o be a critic of Islam.
Luchtpint says
The truth of the matter is that inclusion means nothing of the sort. Depending on who is using a specific word, the meaning of a word means something totally different.
Think for instance of the word ‘democracy’.
Liberals like to claim that they defend democracy against fascism and nazism, and the like.
Carefully consider, for instance that China is officially called “the Democratic People’s Republic of China”, North Korea “the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” and that the genocidal Pol Pot regime in Cambodia was called “Democratic Kampuchea”.
You see what I am getting at ?
mike says
bottom line
Islam is not to be trusted they are a Trojan horse
& Locusts
I don’t care who I offend because when all is done
people will say why didn’t anyone say anything or do anything
the left will stick there head in the sand only hopping they will be eaten last
Islam plan is total control
Cynthia says
When you embrace the most intolerant of cultures, this is what happens. The administration is caving to the violent mob.
Anat Hochberg says
seconded
࿗Infidel࿘ says
While I support Rushdie’s right to speak & be heard, I’m not so sure that he was the right person to be selected to be a graduation speaker
Blougeoisie says
But I bet they don’t mind a tentifada
Gandalfs Trouserpress says
According to Grok, Rushdie is no longer in danger.
Grok is fake facts.
Noah Andeark says
Time to 86 the terrorists at the terror org CAIR.
skeptiker says
Hoffentlich entzieht Trump all diesen Universitäten, die Intoleranz, Faschismus, Antisemitismus und Terror unterstützen, vollständig die staatlichen Zuwendungen. Visaentzug und Exmatrikulation von Studentendarstellern mit und ohne Gesichtswindel inclusive. Null Toleranz für Intoleranz !!
Als Bildungsangebot sollten die Universitäten ihren Studenten mal ein Semester in “Indoktrination und Propagandatechniken von totalitären Ideologien” anbieten.
Richard S says
You ban everyone Robert. And just who is Hugh Fitzgerald Robert?
Winston 101 says
I’m glad Mr Rushdie recognized, in advance, that the institution he was to speak at is not a place that will give him the serious protection he needs. He nearly lost his life, has already lost one eye, and has nerve damage , in his stand for free speech. Perhaps he wants to maintain his ability to see out of the eye he has left.
His considering speaking does expose the college administration as the gutless cowards they are: “The decision was his alone and completely beyond our control”. Not my fault! Says the cowardly bureaucrat after cooperating with the fascists of the “”religion” of peace” he has allowed on campus.
It also shows the continuing danger of allowing Islam into our country.
Islam is a government that includes a religion.
The nature of that government is fascist and is incompatible with U.S. Constitution. Muslims should be denied entry into our country on that basis.
The incompatibility is on full display here with the denial of the speaker’s right to speak and the listener’s right to hear.
All of this is lost on the the so called “college” administration.
Thank you ,Mr. Rushdie, for continuing to fight for free speech in the capacity that you are able.