Protesters disrupted the University of Michigan’s commencement ceremony on Saturday by chanting anti-war messages and waving Palestinian flags. About 75 people, many wearing traditional Arabic kaffiyeh, marched up the main aisle at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, holding signs and chanting slogans. University officials stated that no one was arrested, and the protest did not significantly interrupt the event, which was attended by tens of thousands of people. The protesters were escorted to the rear of the stadium by public safety personnel, where they remained for the duration of the ceremony.
The protests at universities across the country are part of a student movement calling for divestment from companies that support the war in Gaza. Students have set up encampments on campuses, leading to clashes with police and arrests. At Princeton, 18 students launched a hunger strike to push the university to divest from companies tied to Israel. Other schools, such as Brown and Yale, have also seen protests and hunger strikes in support of the cause. The Associated Press reported at least 61 incidents of arrests at campus protests since April 18, with over 2,400 people arrested on college and university campuses.
In response to the protests, some universities have reached agreements with protesters to end demonstrations and prevent disruptions during final exams and commencement ceremonies. Protesters at Tufts University in Massachusetts took down their encampment without police intervention, while at the University of Virginia, police broke up a demonstration calling it an “unlawful assembly.” The protests stem from the Israel-Hamas conflict, which began on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, leading to a devastating offensive by Israel in Gaza that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians, including many women and children.
Student journalists are covering these protests on their campuses, documenting their peers’ efforts to push for divestment from companies supporting the war in Gaza. The protests have led to arrests, hunger strikes, and encampments on various college campuses, including Princeton, Brown, and Yale. Demonstrators are advocating for universities to stop doing business with companies tied to Israel and the conflict in Gaza. The demonstrations have sparked a national conversation about divestment and solidarity with the Palestinian cause, with students across the country participating in various forms of protest to support the movement.
The protests have garnered attention from university officials and local law enforcement, with clashes and arrests occurring at several campuses where students have set up encampments and participated in hunger strikes. While some universities have reached agreements with protesters to end demonstrations, others have faced police intervention to disband the protests. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has fueled the student movement, as protesters call for an end to support for companies linked to the war in Gaza. The protests highlight the solidarity and activism of students in advocating for social justice and human rights in the midst of a contentious international conflict.
