Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted a graduation ceremony at the University of Michigan by unfurling Palestinian flags and banners, chanting against the university’s ties with Israel. Campus police prevented the protesters from reaching the stage, and two planes flew over the ceremony with conflicting messages about supporting Palestine or Israel. Despite the interruption, the event continued without any arrests, and the protesters were escorted to the rear of the stadium. This peaceful protest was part of a larger trend of demonstrations at universities across the country in response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The University of Michigan took increased security measures for their commencement ceremony, including screening attendees and removing banners and flags. Laurie McCauley emphasized the importance of respecting free expression while maintaining order, and police intervened to break up a large gathering the night before graduation. Similar protests and disruptions have occurred at schools like Columbia and UCLA, with over 2,400 arrests nationwide since demonstrations began on April 17. Some universities, including Brown, Northwestern, and Rutgers, agreed to discuss divestment from Israel to quell potential disruptions during final exams and graduation ceremonies.
Protests continued in other locations, with dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators arrested in Chicago for trespassing at the Art Institute and in New York at schools like NYU and The New School. The University of Virginia and SUNY New Paltz also experienced arrests as authorities responded to unlawful assemblies and encampments on their campuses. Nine individuals were arrested at the University of Tennessee, with seven students facing sanctions under the school’s code of conduct. The movement began at Columbia, where students built an encampment to protest the Israel-Hamas conflict, resulting in widespread demonstrations across multiple campuses.
The agreements reached at some universities to discuss divestment represent a significant shift in approach to the controversial issue of boycotting Israel. Middle Eastern studies and funding for protesters have been included in some concessions, but there have been no promises to change investments yet. The ongoing war in Gaza has sparked heightened protests, with universities now engaging in discussions about their links to Israel. The demonstrations have been met with varying responses from law enforcement, with some encampments cleared by police in order to maintain order on campus.
The protests at universities have brought attention to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with over 34,000 Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip according to the Health Ministry. Israel launched its offensive in response to attacks by Hamas militants in southern Israel that resulted in civilian casualties and hostages. The protests have highlighted the growing tensions and activism around the Israel-Palestine conflict, leading to discussions and agreements between universities and student protesters regarding divestment and free expression on campus.
