A small group of Duke University graduates protested against the choice of pro-Israel comedian Jerry Seinfeld as their commencement speaker, with about 30 students chanting “free Palestine” and waving Palestinian flags during the ceremony. Seinfeld was at the university to receive an honorary doctorate and has publicly supported Israel since its conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Similar protests have taken place at campuses across the U.S. this spring, with students calling for their schools to cut ties with Israel and businesses supporting it.
At Southern California’s Pomona College, pro-Palestinian protesters attempted to block access to the commencement ceremony, resulting in police escorting graduates’ families past the demonstrators. The college had previously faced protests regarding its ties to companies linked to the conflict in Gaza, leading to a confrontation where 19 protesters were arrested. The school ultimately had to move its commencement event to a different location in downtown Los Angeles due to the ongoing protests.
Concerns over potential disruptions led to the University of California, Berkeley, taking action to prevent pro-Palestinian demonstrators from causing disruptions at their commencement ceremony. While there were no major counterprotests, some attendees expressed frustration at the protesters for disrupting the event. The small student protest at Duke’s graduation reflected similar events happening at campuses nationwide, following weeks of student protests that led to thousands of arrests at various universities.
Emerson College in Boston also saw student protests during its commencement ceremony, with some students making symbolic gestures of solidarity with Palestinians by displaying messages on their graduation robes and mortar boards. These protests were part of a larger movement that started at Columbia University and inspired similar actions at campuses across the country, leading to cancellations of main graduation ceremonies at some universities. At DePaul University in Chicago, the future of a student-led encampment calling for divestment from Israeli interests remains unclear as talks between protesters and university officials hit an impasse.
Overall, this weekend’s commencement events remained largely peaceful despite the presence of pro-Palestinian demonstrators at multiple universities. The protests have sparked debates about free speech, security concerns, and the role of universities in addressing social justice issues. The Associated Press has covered these events with contributions from journalists in various locations, highlighting the ongoing tension on college campuses surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
