What’s at risk when universities cancel graduation speakers?

As graduation season takes place in the US, some speakers are being told they can no longer give their address at commencement ceremonies because of opinions they have voiced. Subscribe to Guardian News on YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/user/guardianwires?sub_confirmation=1 The Guardian spoke to PEN America’s director of campus free speech, Kristen Shahverdian, who said the cancellations were sending a very troubling message Rutgers graduation speaker canceled for pro-Palestinian posts says decision sends ‘dangerous’ message ► https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/06/rutgers-cancel-graduation-speech-pro-palestine-post The Guardian publishes independent journalism, made possible by supporters. Contribute to The Guardian today ► https://support.theguardian.com/ Sign up to the Guardian's free new daily newsletter, First Edition ► http://theguardian.com/first-edition Website ► https://www.theguardian.com Facebook ►https://www.facebook.com/theguardian Instagram ► https://instagram.com/guardian Bluesky ► https://bsky.app/profile/theguardian.com The Guardian on YouTube: The Guardian ► https://www.youtube.com/@theGuardian Guardian Australia ► https://www.youtube.com/@GuardianAustralia Football Weekly podcast ► https://www.youtube.com/@footballweeklypodcast Guardian Football ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardianfootball Guardian Sport ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardiansport It's Complicated ► https://www.youtube.com/@itscomplicated Guardian Live ► https://www.youtube.com/@GuardianLive #usa #university #freespeech #graduation #palestine #israel