Northeast
Jewish students walk out after MIT commencement speaker accuses university of aiding Israel's 'genocide'
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A commencement speaker accused the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of being part of wiping “Palestine from the face of the Earth” Thursday, leading multiple students to walk out.
Megha M. Vemuri, MIT’s class of 2025 president, praised her classmates for protesting against Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks and the ensuing Gaza War.
“Last spring, MIT’s undergraduate body and graduate student union voted overwhelmingly to cut ties with the genocidal Israeli military. You called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. And you stood in solidarity with the pro-Palestinian activists on campus. You faced threats, intimidation and suppression coming from all directions, especially your own university officials,” Vemuri said.
Her comments drew a mix of boos and cheers, according to video obtained by Fox News Digital. One of the attendants, waving what appeared to be a Palestinian flag, scuffled with security. Some students walked out as Vemuri spoke. Others in the crowd shouted, “Shame.”
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People chant and hold signs at a rally to support Palestine at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in Cambridge, Massachusetts on October 19, 2023. (Photo by William B. Plowman/JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)
“But you prevailed because the MIT community that I know would never tolerate a genocide. Right now, while we prepare to graduate and move forward with our lives, there are no universities left in Gaza,” Vemuri continued.
She went on to say, “We are watching Israel try to wipe Palestine off the face of the earth. And it is a shame that MIT is a part of it.”
Jewish and Israeli students walked out and some in the crowd protested as Vemuri accused the university of being “directly complicit in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.”
“The Israeli occupation forces are the only foreign military that MIT has research ties with. This means that Israel’s assault on the Palestinian people is not only aided and abetted by our country, but our school. As scientists, engineers, academics, and leaders, we have a commitment to support life. Support aid efforts and call for an arms embargo and keep demanding now as alumni that MIT cuts the ties,” she said.
One graduating Israeli student, who wished to remain anonymous, told Fox News Digital, “All of our families came from far to see the ceremony and were extremely disappointed. All the Jewish families, not only the Israelis, stepped out and left the ceremony. MIT administration approved and supported that.”
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Posters created by encampment members are taped to a gate on the edge of the Kresge auditorium lawn at MIT. (Nikolas Lanum/Fox News Digital)
After Vemuri gave her speech at Thursday’s commencement event, she was told she would not be allowed at Friday’s undergraduate ceremony.
“With regard to MIT’s Commencement 2025 activities, the speech delivered by a graduating senior at Thursday’s OneMIT Commencement Ceremony was not the one that was provided by the speaker in advance. While that individual had a scheduled role at today’s Undergraduate Degree Ceremony, she was notified that she would not be permitted at today’s events,” an MIT spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement.
“MIT supports free expression but stands by its decision, which was in response to the individual deliberately and repeatedly misleading Commencement organizers and leading a protest from the stage, disrupting an important Institute ceremony.”
HARVARD, NORTHWESTERN FAILED JEWISH STUDENTS DURING COLLEGE CAMPUS PROTESTS: HOUSE REPORT
College campuses across the U.S. have been rocked with protests amid the Gaza war. MIT was among a plethora of campuses where antisemitic agitators delivered incendiary speeches and faced off with police.
Not too far from MIT, Harvard is facing serious pressure from the Trump administration over allegedly harboring “pro-terrorist” conduct on campus, losing millions in federal funding.
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Boston, MA
Red Sox lefty makes latest rehab start, close to forcing tough decision
What are the Red Sox going to do with Patrick Sandoval?
The veteran left-hander has yet to appear in a big league game for the Red Sox, having missed his first season and a half with the organization while working his way back from Tommy John surgery. But after a deliberate ramp up throughout the spring and then an April setback Sandoval is now nearing a return to the big league roster.
Sandoval made the fifth start of his current rehab assignment Sunday for the WooSox, allowing one run over four innings on three hits, a walk and three strikeouts. He threw 60 pitches, a slight uptick from the 53 he threw over 3 1/3 innings his last time out on Tuesday.
Under MLB rules rehab assignments for a pitcher can last up to 30 days, which means there’s only enough time for Sandoval to make one more start before the Red Sox would have to either activate him or designate him for assignment. Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Sandoval might make one more start in the minors, but he acknowledged a decision will have to be made soon.
“There’s still room to get the count built up some more,” Tracy said. “He got to 60 today and there’s probably room for another one to get it further and then we have to have a conversation after that.”
The Red Sox likely won’t want to lose Sandoval, but how he fits in roster-wise is tricky. The Red Sox starting rotation has been on a roll recently, and the most likely candidate to be optioned is rookie left-hander Jake Bennett, who has pitched brilliantly since coming up to fill Brayan Bello’s spot.
Boston could also insert Sandoval into the bullpen, but the Red Sox are likely about to get fellow left-hander Jovani Moran back off the injured list, and long reliever Ryan Watson can’t be optioned as a Rule 5 pick without being DFA’d himself.
Tracy said those will be issues the Red Sox will have to sort out, but noted that these sorts of logjams often have a way of working themselves out.
“Having depth is a good thing and it’s been tested for us, we had depth when Brayan went down and you know he’s down there and he’s got a specific purpose and mind of trying to get it right, well we’re kind of out of starting depth,” Tracy said. “So getting Sandy helps us in that way, but what we’re going to do yet we haven’t gotten that deep into it but obviously it’s looming.”
Extra innings
Left-hander Jovani Moran (left elbow inflammation) made his second rehab appearance for the WooSox on Sunday, retiring all six batters he faced on just 14 pitches over two perfect innings. Tracy said the club hasn’t decided if Moran will need another rehab outing before he’s activated. … Tracy said shortstop Trevor Story (sports hernia) is continuing to make progress but likely won’t start a rehab assignment before the All-Star break. … Right-hander Kutter Crawford (right wrist surgery recovery) is in the early stages of his throwing program in Fort Myers but remains a long way off from a return.
Pittsburg, PA
Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Game Delayed on Sunday
The Cincinnati Reds are in a rain delay for the second consecutive day. Saturday’s rain delay came before the game even started. Sunday’s rain delay occurred in the bottom of the 8th inning.
“The tarp is on the field, and we are in a delay here at PNC,” the Pirates official account posted on X. “We’ll update when we have info.”
Update: The grounds crew is taking the tarp off the field and the game is expected to resume around 5:20 ET.
The Pittsburgh Pirates lead the Reds 5-4 in the 8th.
Let’s take a look at how we got there.
Game Recap
In the second inning, Esmerlyn Valdez hit a ground-rule double off Reds starting pitcher Brady Singer that scored Nick Gonzalez, giving the Pirates an early 1-0 lead.
Later in the inning, former Red Tyler Callihan hit his third home run of the year, giving Pittsburgh a 4-0 lead.
However, in the fourth, the Reds would battle back. After Elly De La Cruz reached on an error and Sal Stewart singled, JJ Bleday added a single of his own that would score both, making it a 4-2 Pittsburgh advantage.
The Reds continued to rally in the fifth. After Noelvi Marte walked, Tyler Stephenson stayed hot with an RBI double to left field, getting the Reds back within a run.
Edwin Arroyo followed with an RBI single of his own that tied the game at 4.
The Pirates got a run back in the bottom half of the fifth when Ryan O’Hearn hit his 12th home run of the season. That would be it for Singer, who gave up five runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out six and did not walk a batter.
The Pirates had a big opportunity to break the game wide open in the seventh when Zach McCambley walked the bases loaded. Reds manager Terry Francona brought in Brock Burke, who was miraculously able to get out of the jam with a pop-up and an inning-ending double play.
The Reds had a big chance to tie the game in the 8th when they had runners on first and second with nobody out. However, Nathaniel Lowe popped out, Spencer Steer flew out, and Noelvi Marte grounded out to end the threat.
Pierce Johnson was set to come in the game for the Reds when the game entered a rain delay.
We will provide an update as we know more.
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Connecticut
2 years since DOT worker, Andrew DiDomenico was killed in Wallingford work zone crash
WALLINGFORD, Conn. (WFSB) – The Connecticut Department of Transportation is marking two years since the death of Andrew DiDomenico, a DOT worker killed in a work zone crash on June 28, 2024, in Wallingford.
DiDomenico, 26, of Meriden, was struck and killed while working along the shoulder of the Wharton Brook Connector of Interstate 91.
Denise Lucibello, 55, of East Haven, was driving under the influence when her vehicle left the roadway and struck him, according to the state’s attorney’s office.
Lucibello was sentenced to 10 years in prison, execution suspended after five years served, followed by five years of probation. She pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and operating a motor vehicle under the influence.
“The defendant chose to drive under the influence and because of that choice, a young life full of promise was senselessly taken,” State’s Attorney John P. Doyle Jr. said.
DiDomenico’s family started the Andrew DiDomenico Memorial Foundation to honor his legacy and provide scholarships and donations in his name.
CT DOT continues to remind drivers to keep others in mind on the road and themselves.
“Roadside workers put themselves at risk every time they step onto a job site, and it’s on all of us to keep them safe. Drive sober, put the phone away, and slow down and move over in work zones. Lives depend on it.”
Copyright 2026 WFSB. All rights reserved.
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