AMHERST — Disturbed by the arrests of 132 protesters on the University of Massachusetts campus this week during a pro-Palestinian encampment, Colson Whitehead, the two-time Pulitzer Prize winning author scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the undergraduate commencement on May 18, is declining the invitation.

On the BlueSky social media platform, Whitehead on Thursday shared a message he sent to administrators announcing his decision.

“I was looking forward to speaking next week at UMass Amherst. I visited two years ago, and everyone was awesome. My nephew graduated from there and got a great education. But calling the cops on peaceful protesters is a shameful act,” Whitehead wrote.

“I have to withdraw as your commencement speaker. I give all my best wishes and congratulations to the class of ’24 and pray for the safety of the Palestinian people, the return of the hostages and an end to this terrible war.”

UMass spokesman Edward Blaguszewski confirmed that Whitehead will not be present for the ceremony following this week’s events.

“We understand Mr. Whitehead’s position and regret that he will not be addressing the Class of 2024,” Blaguszewski said. “The ceremony will proceed without a commencement speaker this year.”

The university also posted the information on its website.

Whitehead’s post comes after the events of Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, when officers with the state, UMass, Amherst and Hadley police were on campus to make dozens of arrests of students, faculty and community members.

The university’s student government on Wednesday night formally declared it had no confidence in Chancellor Javier Reyes and his administration for bringing hundreds of officers onto campus to break up what organizers insisted was a peaceful protest.

In late April, Whitehead — a New York City-based novelist and Manhattan native — was announced as the speaker at the May 18 ceremony at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, where degrees will be awarded to almost 6,800 undergraduates, while about 20,000 spectators are expected.

Whitehead, a Harvard University graduate, was to have also been presented with an honorary degree from the university in celebration of his literary achievements, including the 2023 novel “Crook Manifesto.” Whitehead earned one of his Pulitzers for “The Underground Railroad,” which also was a National Book Award winner.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.