Congressman Ted Lieu pulled out of the UCLA School of Law’s commencement Friday because of the University of California’s ongoing labor dispute.
The law school announced Lieu, who represents the congressional district that includes UCLA and Westwood, would be its commencement speaker in March. However, Lieu’s office informed the law school Thursday that he would not be able to attend, said Bill Kisliuk, a spokesperson for the school. Instead, Chancellor Gene Block is scheduled to give the commencement address during the ceremony in Dickson Court on Friday.
“I was looking forward to addressing this group of outstanding future lawyers but I am confident that they have all the tools necessary to be ethical, excellent and compassionate attorneys that our country so desperately needs,” Lieu said in a statement.
Lieu’s withdrawal from the law school commencement follows a UC-wide strike held by the American Federation of Local, State and Municipal Employees Local 3299 from Monday to Wednesday. The union has called on speakers to boycott UC commencements, and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris announced last week she would not speak at UC Berkeley’s commencement ceremony Saturday.
Thank you Congressman Lieu for sparing us from your virtue-signaling. The ceremony was bad enough as is.
Him pulling out is virtue signaling on its own.
Block makes 400k a year. Raises the tuition lowers workers wages and steals public funds. He is a perfect candidate to cross a picket line. Well done UC.
Nothing like using one of the biggest days of someone’s life, one they’ve worked years to reach, for your own political gain. These CA politicians and their union benefactors are detestable.
No Ted Lieu, No Kamala Harris, No problem.