U of M medical grad lashes out over ‘deafening silence’ on Gaza crisis

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This article was published 20/05/2024 (531 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A University of Manitoba college of medicine valedictorian used his graduation speech to accuse medical associations of their “deafening silence” on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, spurring controversy and a condemnation from the dean of medicine.

New graduate Gem Newman delivered his 10-minute speech during the Max Rady College of Medicine’s convocation ceremony Thursday afternoon, in which he called for a ceasefire in Palestine.

“I call on you to stand in solidarity with Indigenous people everywhere — here in Treaty 1 territory, where an Indigenous man can expect a life 10 years shorter than mine, and in Palestine, where Israel’s deliberate targeting of hospitals and other civilian infrastructure has led to more than 35,000 deaths and widespread famine and disease,” Newman said during his address to fellow graduates, which gathered cheers and applause during some points.

“I call on you to stand in solidarity with Indigenous people everywhere.”–Gem Newman

The last three minutes of the speech were later shared on social media.

Newman said the Canadian Medical Association, Doctors Manitoba and the Professional Association of Residents and Interns of Manitoba (PARIM) have yet to call for a ceasefire in the war-ravaged region and urged his fellow graduates to get on the “right side of history.”

“I’m sure that some of you here today are worried that you might face censure for speaking about the genocidal war that Israel is waging on the people of Palestine, that it could jeopardize your career before it’s even begun,” Newman said to the graduating class.

“Surely, I don’t have to remind any of you that advocacy is literally in our job description.”

The speech prompted a response from Peter Nickerson, the college’s dean, who said some attendees were “disappointed and alarmed” by the address.

“I share these concerns. I, too, am disappointed that the address was delivered in a way that didn’t represent all students and that was disrespectful to some audience members who were there to celebrate and be celebrated,” Nickerson said in a statement on Friday.

Nickerson said the speech was “divisive and inflammatory” and was not vetted prior to its delivery.

“The University of Manitoba is steadfast in its commitment to freedom of expression; both speech and counter-speech are equally protected. However, freedom of expression has limits and comes with responsibilities … a convocation address is different than a classroom setting, different than an opinion piece in a newspaper – it is an academic celebration for a diverse community,” the statement read.

Neither Newman nor Nickerson could be reached Monday afternoon.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca

Nicole Buffie
Multimedia producer

Nicole Buffie is a reporter for the Free Press city desk. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Nicole graduated from Red River College’s Creative Communications program in 2020 and worked as a reporter throughout Manitoba before joining the Free Press newsroom as a multimedia producer in 2023. Read more about Nicole.

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