At issue was Fudge’s since disavowed support of Lance Mason, who assaulted and years later murdered his ex-wife Aisha Fraser, a beloved Shaker Heights teacher.
SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio — Former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia L. Fudge has withdrawn from her planned role as Shaker Heights High School’s commencement speaker following pushback from the community regarding her past support of disgraced ex-Cuyahoga County Judge Lance Mason.
The district confirmed Fudge voluntarily asked to be removed from the graduation ceremony, scheduled to take place June 5 at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland. School officials add they are now “reviewing the Commencement program,” with a potential replacement now pending.
Fudge had been longtime friends with Mason and his then wife, beloved Shaker Heights elementary school teacher Aisha Fraser, when Mason brutally assaulted Fraser in 2014. The couple later divorced and Mason was sent to prison after pleading guilty, but he was released after only nine months behind bars following a two-year sentence.
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