Sanctioned students at the University of Pennsylvania held an alternate graduation ceremony honoring those who "contribute to the fight against genocide." One attendee, an activist affiliated with a local anti-Israel group, received an award titled "most likely to shot-put a Zionist."
The "People's University Graduation," which took place May 22 at a progressive church in Philadelphia, served as an alternate ceremony for students who were barred from attending official Penn proceedings due to their involvement in an illegal anti-Israel encampment. The event included an awards segment—one honoree, Ramsey Abdeljaber, was deemed "most likely to shot-put a Zionist," according to a video of the event.
Abdeljaber, an organizer with the Philly Palestine Coalition, appears to be a graduate student at Penn—he was admitted to the school to pursue a Master of Liberal Arts in the fall of 2023, according to a letter he shared on social media. A man identified as "Ramsey, a UPenn grad student," meanwhile, spoke at a May 8 rally that saw outside activists march to Penn's campus in "solidarity with students and faculty at the Encampment for Gaza," according to Workers World, a communist newspaper. The 28-year-old Rutgers University graduate was also filmed carrying a backpack around campus in November, though he used a garment to cover his face.
Abdeljaber's work with the Philly Palestine Coalition reflects the overlap between outside activist groups and the student protesters who erected unauthorized anti-Israel encampments on college campuses across the country.
A self-described "alliance of Palestinian, Black & Indigenous communities working to uplift Palestinian liberation," the Philly Palestine Coalition played a crucial role in organizing such an encampment at Penn. On April 25, the first day of the Penn encampment, the group called on "all Philly residents to come join us and protect these students protesting against genocide," bring "water, food, [and] tents," and "stay here as long as you can."
The group went on to mobilize activists to provide "jail support" when local police swept the encampment on May 10, arresting 33 participants.
Abdeljaber, who did not respond to a request for comment and deactivated his Instagram account after the Washington Free Beacon reached out, praised Hamas in the wake of the terror group's Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
In an Oct. 8 tweet, he praised the "resistance," which he said was "still going strong." In a Facebook post sent on the same day, he argued that Palestinians "have the right to defend themselves against 75 years of violent settler-colonial martial law, apartheid, arbitrary acts of violence and displacement, and constant acts of humiliation."
"F—k Israel," Abdeljaber wrote. "Just because western countries helped establish 'Israel' doesn't mean that it was ordained by God and doesn't give them the right to murder whoever they want because they feel like it." Days later, on Oct. 14, he said those who "stand with Israel" and "stand with the USA" support "terrorism."
"F—k the west and all of their terror apologia," he wrote.
The "People's University Graduation" came less than two weeks after Penn leaders placed six student organizers of the illegal encampment on mandatory leaves of absence. Those students were subsequently barred from entering Penn's official graduation proceedings, according to the Daily Pennsylvanian.
School officials said the three seniors who were denied entry had received letters saying they could not enter the ceremony, according to the outlet. The students denied the claim, saying that the "letter does not exist" and that administrators "have not been able to produce it."
A letter obtained by the Free Beacon that was sent to a sanctioned sophomore, Eliana Atienza, shows otherwise. The letter states Atienza "may not participate in any University-related activities—including classes and activities and events sponsored by either recognized or unrecognized student organizations—without prior authorization."
"This restriction includes graduation-related events and Senior Week activities," the letter said.
Atienza also attended the "People's University Graduation," where she received an award "for being unapologetically fierce with lots of energy," footage obtained by the Free Beacon shows.
"Next award goes to someone that I'm sure we're all happy to see … being here with us today," a moderator at the ceremony said. "It's the award for being unapologetically fierce with lots of energy, and that of course goes to Eliana."
An international student from the Philippines, Atienza was instructed to leave her dorm during her mandatory leave, a move she said left her "homeless." Atienza's father, Kim, is a wealthy TV host, and Atienza's grandfather served as deputy speaker of the country's House of Representatives, the Free Beacon reported. Kim in an interview with a Filipino news outlet defended his daughter, saying she technically was homeless and "never said she was poor."
"She had some academic sanctions, but she will be back in the next semester as they are on summer break right now," he said.
The alternate ceremony took place at the Tabernacle United Church, a self-described "eclectic congregation led by queer and transgender staff" located next to Penn's Greenfield Intercultural Center. The church's building also houses the Iron Gate Theater, where Penn leases office space, though it is not considered part of Penn's campus, according to a university spokesman.
While students can go through Penn to reserve the theater, the church space is reserved separately, according to a spokeswoman for the church, who told the Free Beacon that "use of the space is coordinated with office admin and pastor."
The Philly Palestine Coalition in a joint Instagram post with UPenn Faculty for Justice in Palestine thanked the church for hosting the ceremony.
"Congratulations to the Class of Palestine that graduated last night in a small but beautiful ceremony at a local church (whom we thank for their generosity and refuge)," the groups wrote. "We paused to take a breath last night but Palestine was in our hearts and on our lips."
"We will not stop. We will not rest. Until Palestine is free."