Comedian Jerry Seinfeld faced boos at Duke University commencement, with students protesting the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Seinfeld, who supports Israel, was met with walkouts and Palestinian flags in protest. This was part of a larger trend of anti-war demonstrations at college graduations across the country following the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Students demanded universities divest from companies profiting from war or the occupation of Palestinian territories and called for a cease-fire.
The wave of anti-war protests began after Columbia University students set up an encampment, citing past demonstrations against the Vietnam War and apartheid in South Africa as inspiration. They demanded divestment and called for a cease-fire, leading to 108 arrests on campus and solidarity protests nationwide. University administrations either used police force to end the protests or negotiated peaceful resolutions. Columbia University canceled its commencement ceremony due to the unrest caused by the demonstrations.
At other universities, similar anti-war protests occurred during graduation ceremonies. Students walked out at Virginia Commonwealth University during Governor Glenn Youngkin’s address, protesting his policies and role in arresting pro-Palestinian student activists. At the University of California, Berkeley, students removed gowns to reveal protest shirts and waved Palestinian flags during ceremonies. Protests erupted over Israeli military operations in Gaza, leading to civilian casualties and concerns for a possible intensified assault on the Palestinian-controlled area of the Rafah border crossing shared with Egypt.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government have insisted on a full assault on Rafah to eliminate Hamas, following the group’s statement agreeing to a cease-fire framework. Cease-fire negotiations have taken place amidst airstrikes in Rafah, with more than 1 million refugees taking shelter in the area. President Joe Biden has warned against intensified Israeli operations, expressing concern for civilian lives in Gaza. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has sparked international attention and protests, including disruptions at college graduations in the US.
