SAN DIEGO _ Civil rights legend and U.S. Congressman John Lewis has withdrawn as the main speaker for UC San Diego's June 16th commencement ceremony to support a job action by unionized workers in the University of California system.
Lewis, a Georgia Democrat, will be replaced at the podium by UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Khosla.
The event, expected to draw about 25,000 people, will be held at Rimac Field.
"Due to a UC-wide speaker boycott called by AFSCME Local 3299, Rep. John Lewis has withdrawn as UC San Diego's commencement speaker," the university said late Tuesday in a statement.
"Commencement is a very special milestone for our students, who have worked very hard to reach graduation and their achievement deserves to be recognized and celebrated appropriately."
The announcement comes about a month after U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., cancelled as the graduation speaker at UC Berkeley.
"Lewis has stood by what is right throughout his career, including his decision to stand by UC workers and withdraw from commencement," Mohamed Al Elew, editor-in-chief of the UC San Diego Triton newspaper, told The San Diego Union-Tribune late Tuesday.
"The Triton's staff works diligently to keep students informed and administration accountable. UCSD would have preferred this stay out of headlines to avoid bad press and student protest at commencement."
Khosla could not be reached Tuesday for comment.
