The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today called on Claremont McKenna College (CMC) leadership to address students’ concerns regarding the school’s 2026 Commencement Speaker, Salman Rushdie.
Rushdie is an Indian-born British-American novelist who has previously made troubling statements about Islam and Palestine.
On Friday, May 2, the Claremont Colleges Muslim Students Association (MSA) released a statement condemning CMC’s decision to host Rushdie, stating “commencement is meant to celebrate and unite the graduating class, not to platform a figure known for disparaging a global religious community … this decision disregards the values of inclusion that CMC claims to uphold.”
The MSA also called on President Hiram Chodosh and Vice President for Student Affairs Dianna Graves to withdraw their invitation to Rushdie.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Legal Director Amr Shabaik, Esq., said:
“CMC cannot claim to value diversity and inclusion while dismissing the voices of its students. We strongly urge CMC leadership to address the sincere concerns raised by the MSA about the decision to host Salman Rushdie, engage with them in good faith, and ensure that the campus remains an environment where students feel heard, respected, and valued.”
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR-LA Senior Communications Coordinator Madi Morse-Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com