Representative Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat from Florida, has publicly criticized a student from New York University (NYU) who made pro-Palestinian statements during his graduation speech. This criticism came after the university announced it would withhold the student’s diploma.
During the opening ceremony at NYU’s Gallatin School on Wednesday, graduate speaker Logan Rozos expressed his concerns about the treatment of Palestinians in light of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“At this moment, the most appropriate thing to say to such a large audience is to acknowledge the atrocities currently happening in Palestine,” Rozos stated.
He further declared that “the genocide that’s taking place is politically and militarily supported by the United States.”
Following these remarks, NYU released a statement criticizing Rozos, indicating his comments were not part of an approved speech and announcing that his diploma would be withheld pending further decisions.
Moskowitz addressed Rozos’ comments during a panel discussion on CNN’s “News Night with Abby Phillip” the next day. He asserted, “He lied to the university. Secondly, he heard and lied. There’s no genocide happening in Israel. It’s a war, and it’s tragic. There are people suffering because of Hamas’s actions.” He added, “I’d like to hope for more food to Gaza.”
Moskowitz cautioned that Rozos might face repercussions beyond what the university has already imposed.
“Ultimately, whether he receives his diploma or not is up to the university,” he remarked. “They know they can give him his diploma; it’s not that important. He can still find a job. It’s foolish and self-centered, and it overshadowed the ceremony for many families.”
NYU’s statement clarified that Rozos had misunderstood his role as a student speaker, which was supposed to reflect personal and unilateral political views.
John Beckman, a spokesperson for NYU, commented, “He misrepresented a speech he was supposed to deliver, breaching our guidelines. The university held back his diploma while pursuing disciplinary measures. We regret that the audience had to hear these statements, and that this moment was tarnished by someone who misused the privilege granted to him.”
