Protests against the Israel-Hamas war have spread to U.S. universities and college campuses in recent weeks, leading to riots and arrests. Some demonstrations extended to graduation ceremonies over the weekend, although they remained muted compared to the encampments and rallies that roiled universities and led to nearly 2,900 arrests of students and other protesters.
Most of the opening exercises took place as planned and were largely peaceful. Here’s a look at some of the ceremonies that included protests:
DUKE UNIVERSITY
Dozens of Duke University’s 7,000 graduates left their seats to protest against pro-Israel speaker and comedian Jerry Seinfeld during the commencement event in Durham, North Carolina, on Sunday.
Some waved the red, green, black and white Palestinian flag and chanted “Free Palestine” to a mix of boos and cheers.
Seinfeld, whose eponymous show became one of the most popular in U.S. television history for over a decade, was there to receive an honorary doctorate from the university.
The stand-up comedian and actor has publicly supported Israel since it invaded Gaza to crush Hamas after the organization attacked the country on October 7, killing about 1,200 people in southern Israel. The ensuing war killed nearly 35,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
POMONA COLLEGE
Small Pomona College in Southern California moved Sunday night’s commencement 30 miles (48 kilometers) to the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles after pro-Palestinian protesters set up camp on the campus’s ceremonial stage last week. A few dozen pro-Palestinian protesters tried to block access to the final event.
Anwar Mohmed, a Pomona graduate, said the school had repeatedly ignored calls to consider divesting its endowment funds from companies linked to the war in Gaza.
“We were repeatedly ignored by the institution,” Mohmed said outside the shrine on Sunday. “So today we have to say that it’s not business as usual.”
EMERSON COLLEGE
Student protesters at Emerson College in Boston occasionally broke into chants during Sunday’s commencement ceremony and tried to disrupt the event.
Several speakers paused briefly and then spoke louder as the chants faded and ended. Some graduates wore Palestinian keffiyeh scarves. Others removed their graduation gowns and dropped them on the stage after receiving their diplomas.
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
Dozens of Virginia Commonwealth University graduates walked out of the university Saturday during an address by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
While some of the estimated 100 students and family members who walked out during the Republican governor’s speech showed their support for the Palestinians, others held signs signaling their opposition to Youngkin’s education policies, according to WRIC-TV.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, on Saturday at the University of California, Berkeley, a tiny group of pro-Palestinian protesters waved flags and chanted during the opening ceremony and were escorted to the back of the stadium. There were no major counter-protests, but some participants expressed frustration.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
Pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill splashed red paint on the steps of a building hours before school began and chanted on campus while students in graduation gowns posed for photos, the News & Observer reported.
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
A tiny group of protesters at the University of Wisconsin-Madison staged what appeared to be a hushed protest during the opening at Camp Randall Stadium. A photo published by the Wisconsin State Journal showed about six people walking through the back of the stadium. Two carried a Palestinian flag.
Marc Lovicott, a campus police spokesman, said the group, which he said included students because they were wearing caps and gowns, was “somehow led out, but they left on their own.” No arrests were made.
Pro-Palestinian protesters on campus agreed Friday to permanently disband their two-week-old encampment and not disrupt graduation ceremonies in exchange for the opportunity to engage with “decision makers” by July 1 Control university investments.
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
At the University of Texas at Austin, a student held up a Palestinian flag during Saturday’s opening ceremony and briefly refused to leave the stage before being escorted away by security.
NORTH EASTERN UNIVERSITY
In Boston, Northeastern University’s commencement ceremonies took place peacefully in the rain at Fenway Park on May 5.
Some students waved tiny Palestinian and Israeli flags, but these were scattered among flags of India, the United States and other nations. Bachelor student speaker Rebecca Bamidele received brief cheers when she called for peace in Gaza.
Police arrested about 100 protesters at Northeastern last month as they broke up an encampment on campus.
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
A 53-year-old woman fell to her death from the stands during Ohio State University’s graduation ceremony on May 5, university officials said. The woman’s daughter also received a diploma.
The fall occurred around noon near where the final graduates entered Ohio Stadium. The Columbus Dispatch, citing coroner’s documents, reported that the death was being investigated as an apparent suicide.
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Police officers stood nearby as some graduates holding Palestinian flags and shouting pro-Palestinian messages protested during commencement at the University of Michigan on May 4. One banner read: “No more universities in Gaza.”
The protests took place away from the stage and failed to stop the nearly two-hour event. Protesters demanded that Michigan cut its financial ties with all Israel-affiliated companies. The university allowed protesters to set up camp in the middle of campus.
