Students at the University of Florida are speaking out after a faculty member forcibly rushed graduates, most of them African-American, off stage during one of the school’s commencement ceremonies over the weekend.
UF President W. Kent Fuchs issued an apology after videos of the incident surfaced online. Check out some more from the moment below:
https://twitter.com/yeliah_/status/992960320326000640
UF Twitter ??
Somebody please find out this employee’s name!! Every time a Black student took more than TWO seconds, he aggressively pushed them. Watch it for yourself. #ItsGreatUF pic.twitter.com/zMee1nMbUZ
— #HandsOffVenezuela (@ChicoFreedom) May 5, 2018
Multiple University of Florida students were pulled off stage during their graduation ceremony this past weekend, and now the videos are causing a stir online.
DETAILS:… https://t.co/nCeTjuqbz5
— Sara Girard (@SaraGirardNews) May 6, 2018
Black University of Florida students were waving and cheering when they were manhandled by a graduation marshal. https://t.co/GW0zSmz2yQ
— HuffPost BlackVoices (@blackvoices) May 6, 2018
University of Florida apologizes after graduates aggressively dragged off stage while receiving diplomas. @VictorOquendo has the latest: https://t.co/gabCMLBnWn pic.twitter.com/TGHOMlwNM6
— Good Morning America (@GMA) May 7, 2018
Graduating is the equivalent to scoring a touchdown in the NFL. Let these kids celebrate any way they want. If they go streaking, then yes, tackle them off the stage. Otherwise let these kids express themselves.
Another one…. pic.twitter.com/imB8mwbICI
— Jordy (@_jordanaenae) May 5, 2018
This headline doesn't point out that Black students were much more aggressively shoved and manhandled on a Jumbotron screen. Other students of color said they received similar treatment. https://t.co/jMzhobifXi
— Lily Herman (@lkherman) May 7, 2018
Of course the school apologized. Every day we hear more sorrys than why something actually happened. SMH.
During one of this weekend’s commencement ceremonies, we were inappropriately aggressive in rushing students across the stage. I personally apologize, and am reaching out to the students involved. (1/2)
— W. Kent Fuchs (@PresidentFuchs) May 6, 2018
The practice has been halted for all future ceremonies, and we will work to make sure all graduating students know we are proud of their achievements and celebrate with them their graduation. (2/2)
— W. Kent Fuchs (@PresidentFuchs) May 6, 2018
The University is proud of the achievements of every single one of our graduates and regrets that any celebration of the day may have been diminished by those monitoring a graduation ceremony.
— FLORIDA (@UF) May 6, 2018
