Dr. Joanne Liu, a world-renowned pediatric physician from Montreal, says NYU abruptly cancelled a scheduled talk. Liu says fear of political reprisals prompted the cancellation.

She said her lecture was going to discuss humanitarian aid in a time of crises as well as the challenges aid workers have faced in Gaza and other war zones.

“[I was told] that discussing the USAID cuts could be perceived as an anti-governmental narrative,” Liu told Global in an interview on Friday. She added that NYU, her alma mater, also said her lecture risked being perceived as antisemitic.