New York’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg represents the oppressive nature of the intersection of capital wealth and government that the Occupy movement is rejecting. Bloomberg has directly chosen to silence his constituents by dismantling the encampment at Zuccotti Park. Bloomberg should not convey the parting words of advice for students graduating from UNC. The commencement speaker should represent and embody the values of UNC’s mission to “improve society” which we interpret to mean building a more equitable, democratic, and community-rich world.

We, the undersigned, are UNC students, faculty, staff and concerned citizens who urge the Chancellor Thorp and the Commencement Committee to act now to revoke Michael Bloomberg’s invitation to speak at UNC’s Commencement Ceremony on May 13, 2012.