The University of Southern California has canceled its plan for this year's valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, who is Muslim, to deliver a graduation speech due to security concerns. Pro-Israeli groups objected to her social media posts supporting Palestinians. This decision has sparked criticism from various organizations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The university cited escalating tensions related to the ongoing Middle East conflict as the reason for the cancellation, emphasizing it was not related to freedom of speech. Ms. Tabassum's selection was based on her academic achievements and volunteer work. Trojans for Israel accused her of promoting anti-Zionist rhetoric, leading to the university's decision.