Hackers interrupted a virtual graduation ceremony with racial slurs and a swastika during student blessing

  • Oklahoma City University’s Zoom graduation ceremony was interrupted by a show of “racism, bigotry, and anti-Semitism” from hackers.
  • University President Martha Burger said the school has begun working with federal and state authorities and will pursue “every avenue to ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law.”
  • Since coronavirus lockdown measures moved offices and classrooms across the US online, incidents on Zoom have interrupted online classes, corporate gatherings, and even virtual Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

A virtual graduation ceremony held on Zoom was interrupted by hackers on Saturday who launched “racism, bigotry, and anti-Semitism,” the university said.

The graduating class from Oklahoma City University was listening to a student give a blessing when racial slurs and a swastika appeared on screens, CNN affiliate KFOR reported.

University President Martha Burger condemned the incident in a statement posted online.

“We are heartbroken and outraged at the hate-filled attack that occurred at the end of our virtual graduation celebration today,” Burger wrote. “During a time that should have been focused on recognising our graduating students, an unknown source was able to bypass the system and display racist and offensive language. I want to be clear, OCU stands against racism, bigotry, and anti-Semitism.”

Read the article by Ellen Cranley in Business Insider Australia.