King's Commencement Speech Subject of Controversy

Some students at St. John's University are objecting to the selection of Rep. Peter King, R-Seaford, as the school's commencement speaker.

But King, a long-time Long Island Congressman who represents part of Farmingdale, King said that the decision by St. John’s students to protest, “is their right even though they are misguided and wrong.”

A group of students from the Queens campus put up a petition in the change.org website calling on the university to replace him as speaker.

“King has made discriminatory and offensive comments regarding issues such as domestic terrorism and bilingual education,” the protesters wrote on website.

They cited King’s criticism of bilingual education and the hearings he held on the extent of radicalization in the Muslim-American community as examples of why  the Congressman should be disinvited.

“As a former professor who has had a number of students from a variety of cultural backgrounds, Rep. King's track record of hateful rhetoric against Islam has no place on one of the most diverse campuses in the United States,” wrote Alex DiBlasi, who was one of more than 500 people who signed the petition.

King said he was invited several months ago by St. John’s President Donald Harrington, and was told that the  school planned to honor those who made an impact after Hurricane Sandy. New York City Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano was invited to the commencement at the school’s Staten Island campus on May 18.

King will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the Queens Commencement scheduled the next day, according to the university.

“It is a great privilege to have been selected as St. John’s commencement speaker," King said. "I am saddened that this outstanding university is being dragged into this fight. But the right of free speech and academic freedom is paramount and I commend St. John’s University. I look forward to the commencement ceremony.”