Ivanka Trump rips 'cancel culture' after Wichita State University drops her as commencement speaker amid President Trump's criticism of George Floyd protests.... but the first daughter releases her speech anyway

Ivanka Trump has hit back after she was dropped as a guest speaker at a Kansas university's online commencement ceremony.
Trump, who also acts as a senior adviser to the president, has blamed 'cancel culture' as part of the reason she was removed from the graduation ceremonies of Wichita State University and WSU Tech. 
'Our nation's campuses should be bastions of free speech. Cancel culture and viewpoint discrimination are antithetical to academia. Listening to one another is important now more than ever!' she tweeted.
The First Daughter also shared the nine-minute video message which she had recorded on May 18 and planned to give to those at the school, despite being dropped from the bill. 
In it she told students: 'You are a wartime graduate,' and that their training has prepared them 'for exactly this moment'. 

Ivanka Trump has blamed 'cancel culture' and 'viewpoint discrimination' for the cancellation of a virtual commencement address to a Kansas technical school
Ivanka Trump has blamed 'cancel culture' and 'viewpoint discrimination' for the cancellation of a virtual commencement address to a Kansas technical school
The First Daughter decided to post the full nine-minute video of her speech online despite being dropped
The First Daughter decided to post the full nine-minute video of her speech online despite being dropped
'You commence at a moment unlike any other. America and the world are battling a terrible pandemic. Our entire society is engaged in a national endeavor to defeat the virus, protect our fellow citizens, and open up America again to rebuild our economy and take care of the safety and well-being of our people,' she said.
'Right now I know the economic uncertainty is real, and it's hard on many of you and your families. Your own blueprint for your future is likely changing due to the pandemic, but I am confident that even if your path is different form the one you imagined, ultimately it can be better than we could ever have planned,' she added.
'In my own life, I have found that my greatest personal growth has arisen from times of discomfort and uncertainty,' the billionaire's daughter said. 
The school admitted on Friday that plans to have her speak were shelved amid criticism over the president's response to protests against the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.   
Administrators of both universities, which are affiliated, said Saturday's graduation for the technical university would instead be 'refocused' on students, with a nursing graduate as the only speaker.

Wichita State University and WSU Tech dropped Ivanka Trump from the college's June 6 virtual graduation
Wichita State University and WSU Tech dropped Ivanka Trump from the college's June 6 virtual graduation
The announcement that the president's daughter would speak drew immediate criticism, led by Jennifer Ray, pictured, associate professor of photo media at Wichita State, who sent a letter asking school administrators to cancel the speech
The announcement that the president's daughter would speak drew immediate criticism, led by Jennifer Ray, pictured, associate professor of photo media at Wichita State, who sent a letter asking school administrators to cancel the speech
Ivanka Trump visited WSU Tech's National Center for Aviation Training last fall.
But the announcement that Ivanka Trump was due to speak drew immediate criticism, led by Jennifer Ray, associate professor of photo media at Wichita State, who sent a letter asking school administrators to cancel the speech. 
It circulated on social media and garnered 488 signatures from faculty, students and alumni before the speech was canceled, The Wichita Eagle reported.
While noting that Wichita State does not have administrative control over WSU Tech, Ray said having Trump speak would taint both institutions. 
Protests have broken out around the world since black man Floyd died in Minneapolis after a white police officer pressed a knee on his neck for almost nine minutes. 
Administrators at Wichita State University and WSU Tech announced the decision late Thursday that the president's daughter would not be speaking to students on Saturday
Administrators at Wichita State University and WSU Tech announced the decision late Thursday that the president's daughter would not be speaking to students on Saturday
Ivanka Trump, President Donald Trump's daughter and adviser, toured WSU-Tech National Center for Aviation Training in Wichita, Kansas in October 2019
Ivanka Trump, President Donald Trump's daughter and adviser, toured WSU-Tech National Center for Aviation Training in Wichita, Kansas in October 2019
Ivanka Trump is pictured drilling a rivet in a sheet metal classroom at WSU-Tech National Center for Aviation Training in Wichita, Kansas last October. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo can be seen in the background
Ivanka Trump is pictured drilling a rivet in a sheet metal classroom at WSU-Tech National Center for Aviation Training in Wichita, Kansas last October. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo can be seen in the background
Ray wrote that President Trump has said he might use federal military troops to quell the U.S. demonstrations and has made his 'callous disregard' for minorities well known, while refusing to criticize police tactics during the demonstrations.
'We owe it to our students to stand up for the right thing when and where we can,' Ray wrote. 'To our students of color, and to me, inviting Ivanka Trump to speak right now sends the message that WSU Tech does not take diversity seriously.'
In a separate statement, WSU Tech President Sheree Utash acknowledged that 'the timing of the announcement was insensitive' and apologized.   
Police officer Derek Chauvin can be seen kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, 46, who later died
Police officer Derek Chauvin can be seen kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, 46, who later died
Ivanka Trump rips 'cancel culture' after Wichita State University drops her as commencement speaker amid President Trump's criticism of George Floyd protests.... but the first daughter releases her speech anyway Ivanka Trump rips 'cancel culture' after Wichita State University drops her as commencement speaker amid President Trump's criticism of George Floyd protests.... but the first daughter releases her speech anyway Reviewed by Your Destination on June 07, 2020 Rating: 5

No comments

TOP-LEFT ADS