Students at the same graduation where a black woman snatched a microphone out of a white volunteer’s hand in a viral video and made allegations of racism have disputed those claims.
Kadia Iman was seen in a TikTok video wrestling a microphone out of a white staff member’s hand while fellow graduates stood in line to receive their diplomas at La Guardia Community College in Queens, New York.
‘I want the mic,’ Iman can be heard yelling at the volunteer helper as she aggressively tugged the mic from her. ‘Let go. You didn’t let me get my moment.’
Following the ceremony, Iman posted a short video explaining her actions: ‘She was pulling the mic down super fast for some black people.’ she stated to justify her outburst.
But now her fellow graduates have spoken out and said Iman completely overreacted.
Kadia Iman was seen in a TikTok video wrestling a microphone out of a white lecturer’s hand while graduates at La Guardia Community College in Queens, New York, stood in line to receive their diplomas at an unidentified school
Following the ceremony, Iman posted a short video explaining her actions at the LaGuardia College graduation
Fellow graduates have spoken out and saying Iman completely overreacted and her allegations of racism were not true
‘That video is a little hard to watch,’ one woman stated. ‘I too graduated from [LaGuardia] yesterday. I was there. Everyone had the opportunity to say their first and last name. No one said anything more, no one said anything less,’ TikTok user @glamstonerboutique said in a video.
‘The young lady, I understand it was her moment but she went about it the wrong way. No one was discriminated against or racially profiled her. She handled it very poorly. I’m sorry she felt like she had a bad experience. This was the only issue all day. The ceremony was great,’ she continued.
A second black woman who also received her diploma at the same ceremony also took to TikTok showing little sympathy for Iman’s cause.
‘I was at the graduation. There were two long lines and we were told to say our names when we approached the lady in the video. But she didn’t know any of our names – whether they were long or short,’ said @queldinero810.
‘Basically there were some people who said some extra things in addition to their names, but they weren’t racist. There were a lot of people of all races there. We were just told to say our first and last names,’ she continued.
‘I said “I love my mamma” and another girl who was before me who was also a chocolate girl said “Big up Jamaica!”. I believe this girl acted the way she did because it was a little white old lady.
‘I don’t believe she’d have done that had it been anybody else. Also the mic was never meant to get snatched. The lady was going back and forth to each line of students. She went for a moment and she got her moment,’ the LaGuardia College graduate said.
Iman was seen in a viral video wrestling a microphone out of white volunteer’s hand
Iman appeared to vent her frustration in front of fellow graduates and staff before dropping the mic
Those commenting on the video were also disapproving of how Iman had behaved.
‘Regardless of the fact they let her say her name or not, what she did was disrespectful and not the right way to handle things,’ said one.
‘I think she did that because nobody came to her graduation,’ suggested another.
‘I think she was just angry that nobody came to her graduation and she was a powder keg waiting to go off and she perceived some insult and that was it,’ wrote another TikTok user.
The school has since responded to what occurred at the ceremony describing her behavior as ‘unacceptable’.
‘We regret that the student’s disruptive and inappropriate behavior impacted the celebration for graduates and guests. Her mistreatment of a staff volunteer was unacceptable,’ the school said in a statement.
‘We are currently reviewing the incident to gain a better understanding of what occurred and what we might do in the future to prevent something like this from happening again.’
Each student was given the opportunity to say their name, major, and a few small things about themselves as they traveled toward the stage, the influencer and Only Fans star admitted in a separate TikTok
Iman could be seen violently grabbing the microphone away from the women who was a volunteer. She said the volunteer had pulled the mic down quickly on Black students
‘I want the mic,’ Iman can be heard yelling at the educator as she aggressively tugged the electronic from her in the now viral video. ‘Let go. You didn’t let me get my moment’
The school have now responded to what occurred at the ceremony describing her behavior as ‘unacceptable’
The school further added in response to the viral video:
‘Our June 21st Commencement was a culmination of a lot of hard work and collaboration from LaGuardia faculty and staff volunteers who created a welcoming space for graduates to be recognized and for them to celebrate with their loved ones.
‘An incident occurred involving one graduate who demonstrated their frustration during the student procession for not being able to hold the microphone while they announced their name.
‘As a process for keeping the ceremony running in an orderly manner, students are given the opportunity to say their name while a volunteer holds the microphone. None of the students are allowed to hold the microphone to avoid any delay of the student procession and the ceremony.
‘At LaGuardia, we take pride in providing our students with the academic, emotional, and developmental support they need to be successful inside and outside of the classroom. We also encourage a safe and respectful learning and working environment for our students, faculty, and staff,’ the statement by Manny Romero, Vice President of Communications and External Affairs explained.
Iman had already received her diploma but then returned to walk back to where other students were lining up to grab the mic
‘I don’t want to be that person, but that was the tea. So, I just couldn’t let her, I just couldn’t let that happen because I worked so hard to graduate, went through so much s**t to graduate, that I just felt like I needed to reclaim my moment,’ Iman said.
Iman had already received her diploma but then returned to walk back to where other students were lining up to grab the mic, just as the group from Interdisciplinary Studies was about to enter.
Each student was given the opportunity to say their name, major, and a few small things about themselves as they traveled toward the stage, the influencer and Only Fans star admitted in a separate TikTok video. But as she and other black students got the chance to speak, she said she noticed the woman ‘pulling the mic down super fast for some black people.’
Iman went to ‘reclaim’ her moment and told the crowd her full name.
‘I don’t like how you snatched the mic out of my hand and today is going to be all about me,’ she told the administrator before throwing the microphone forcibly onto the ground and walking away.
Iman took to Instagram to add she is not ’embarrassed’ by her actions and the internet will ‘not gaslight me into thinking I’m the bad guy. I did it for girls that look like me, love you.’
DailyMail.com has attempted to reach Iman for comment.
Many took to the comments to congratulate Iman, with one writing: ”I had to reclaim my moment’ AND DID.’
She took to Instagram to add that she is not ’embarrassed’ by her actions and the internet will ‘not gaslight me into thinking I’m the bad guy. I did it for girls that look like me, love you’
The student appeared to received plentiful support from other online followers after the viral video
‘All the black girls stand up,’ one wrote.
A woman named Zaria wrote: I’m so glad you stood up for yourself & had your moment! I’m proud of you & congratulations!!’
One user wrote: ‘The fact that she stood there and tried to keep you from getting the mic proved she was trying to keep you down.. I am so glad you got your moment.’
‘You was obviously right cos security behind you didn’t even budge,’ another added.
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