Fact Check: Students chanted 'Free Mahmoud!' at Columbia University’s commencement ceremony.

Fact Check: "Students chanted 'Free Mahmoud!' at Columbia University’s commencement ceremony."

What We Know

During Columbia University’s graduation ceremony on May 20, 2025, students indeed chanted "Free Mahmoud" in support of Mahmoud Khalil, a detained graduate student. As the acting president of Columbia, Claire Shipman, began her speech, she was met with widespread boos and chants from the audience, which included the phrase "Free Mahmoud" (NBC News NOW, source-1). The chants were a direct reference to Khalil, who had been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in March 2025 (NBC News, source-3).

Khalil is a Syrian-born green card holder known for organizing pro-Palestinian rallies at Columbia. His detention has sparked significant controversy, especially amid heightened scrutiny of foreign students under the Trump administration (Forward, source-4).

The incident at the graduation ceremony reflects ongoing tensions at Columbia University regarding free speech and political activism, particularly related to the Israel-Palestine conflict (NBC News, source-2).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim that students chanted "Free Mahmoud" at Columbia University's commencement is robust. Multiple credible news sources reported on the incident, including NBC News and the Forward, which provided detailed accounts of the events that transpired during the ceremony. These reports included direct quotes from the acting president and descriptions of the audience's reactions, confirming the authenticity of the chants (NBC News, source-3; Forward, source-4).

The sources used in this analysis are reputable and well-established news organizations, which adds to the reliability of the information presented. The NBC News reports, in particular, are known for their journalistic integrity and thorough fact-checking processes. Additionally, the context surrounding Khalil's detention and the political climate at the university provides further credibility to the students' actions, as they were expressing solidarity with a peer facing serious legal challenges (Times of India, source-5).

Conclusion

The claim that students chanted "Free Mahmoud!" at Columbia University’s commencement ceremony is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that the chants occurred as a form of protest against the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, reflecting broader issues of free speech and political activism at the university.

Fact Check: Students chanted 'Free Mahmoud!' at Columbia University’s commencement ceremony.