A video of Megha Vemuri, an Indian-American student and president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Class of 2025, has gone viral online after she used her commencement speech to sharply criticize Israel's military actions in Gaza and denounce MIT's research ties with the Israeli military. The speech, delivered while wearing a red keffiyeh a symbol of Palestinian solidarity has ignited widespread debate.
Who Is Megha Vemuri?
Megha Vemuri, an Indian origin, was born and raised in Alpharetta, Georgia. At MIT, she just earned a degree in computer science, neurology, and linguistics for her undergraduate studies. During her time at the university, she played an active role in student leadership as the president of the graduating class.
Outside of academics, Vemuri was deeply involved in advocacy and research. She led the “Written Revolution” initiative and contributed to scientific work at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, solidifying her reputation as both a scholar and activist within the MIT community.
What Happened?
During her address, Vemuri condemned what she referred to as “genocide” in Gaza and accused MIT of ignoring student demands to cut academic ties with Israeli defense institutions. According to her, MIT has active research relationships with just one foreign military, Israel.
“You showed the world that MIT wants a free Palestine,” she said, highlighting the months of student-led protests on campus. Vemuri also alleged that the administration had responded to these demonstrations with “threats, intimidation, and suppression.”
One of the most striking moments came when she contrasted the ceremony at MIT with the devastation in Gaza, stating, “Right now, while we prepare to graduate and move forward with our lives, there are no universities left in Gaza.”
Her remarks received a mixed response: while some graduates cheered and chanted “Free, Free Palestine!” waving Palestinian flags, others remained silent or refrained from reacting.
As of now, MIT has not issued a public response regarding Vemuri’s speech or the university’s ongoing research connections with Israeli institutions.
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