Fatima Mousa Mohammed's commencement address at CUNY Law School has sparked a firestorm of criticism, with some calling for her to be barred from practicing law. Her speech, delivered on May 12th, has been labeled as a "call for insurrection" and condemned for its harsh rhetoric against law enforcement and what she termed "systems of oppression."

Several groups, including the Lawfare Project and the Zionist Organization of America, have filed complaints, arguing that Mohammed's statements demonstrate a lack of the "character and fitness" required for admission to the bar. NYC Council Member Inna Vernikov echoed these concerns in a letter to the New York Bar.

Mohammed's speech included strong criticisms of law enforcement and the military, labeling them as "fascist." She also advocated for a "revolution" against perceived oppressive institutions and voiced support for Palestinian political prisoners, including those associated with the Holy Land Foundation (HLF), a charity convicted of supporting Hamas.

These remarks, along with her criticisms of Israel and Zionism, have drawn accusations of antisemitism. Critics, including Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), have called for CUNY to lose federal funding in response to the controversy.

CUNY initially defended Mohammed's speech as reflecting individual perspectives on social justice. However, following the widespread backlash, the university later issued a statement condemning the address as "hate speech."

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who also spoke at the graduation ceremony, criticized Mohammed's speech as "vile anti-American and anti-Israel speech promoting hate." Mohammed has not yet publicly responded to the criticism.