Two Jewish advocacy groups have asked the IRS to probe whether CUNY Law School violated its tax-exempt status after one of its graduates delivered a widely condemned “hate speech” at commencement.
The federal tax agency should review whether the school is engaging in political or lobbying activities that would violate the non-profit status currently held by the City University of New York, wrote the National Jewish Advocacy Center and International Legal Forum to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel on June 2.
The city law school has faced sharp backlash after 2023 law graduate Fatima Mousa Mohammed accused Israel of indiscriminately murdering Palestinians during her May 12 speech. She also ripped the NYPD as “fascist” while calling for a “revolution” to take on the legal system’s “white supremacy.”
National Jewish Advocacy Center director Mark Goldfeder and International Legal Forum CEO and lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky wrote in their letter to Werfel that the speech has been denounced by numerous elected and civic leaders because of its “extremist rhetoric, divisive nature and explicit display of anti-Semitism.”
The pair also alleged that when the CUNY law faculty unanimously passed a resolution to pass the “discriminatory” boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel on May 12, 2022, it directly violated the public school’s non-profit status that “prohibits engaging in substantial political or lobbying activities.
“CUNY’s clearly identifiable pattern of hosting speakers who express anti-Israel sentiments or criticize Israeli policies reveals a systematic effort to influence public opinion and shape political discourse,” the letter states, noting that Mohammed mentioned CUNY faculty’s endorsement of BDS in her speech.
Even though the CUNY Board of Trustees and CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez denounced the commencement address as “hate speech” and called it “unacceptable,” the advocacy groups called the response “not only late but also grossly inadequate,” accusing the school of a history of antisemitism.
CUNY Law professors have demanded the school’s administration pull back labeling the remarks as “hate speech,” arguing that Mohammed’s controversial address is protected under the First Amendment.
“The implication that an elected-student speaker at an institution devoted to social justice and human rights was applauded by her peers, faculty, and attendees for engaging in ‘hate speech’ is an affront to both the student speaker and our entire community,” stated the letter signed by dozens of faculty members, Gothamist reported.
The requested IRS investigation from the advocacy groups comes after GOP state lawmakers demanded Gov. Kathy Hochul withhold taxpayer funds from any CUNY campus that allows incendiary rhetoric at school-sponsored events.
“The freedom of thought, inquiry and expression at our institutions of higher education is a value that most Americans hold dear,” they said.
“However, we are deeply troubled by what appears to be a misguided and potentially destructive shift toward enabling, embracing and even celebrating radical, intolerant and hate-filled political viewpoints on our CUNY and SUNY campuses.”
Mohammed declined to comment on her speech when reached by The Post last week at a relative’s home and said she didn’t want to be contacted again.