During college commencements across the United States, small pro-Palestinian protests popped up over the weekend. At Virginia Commonwealth University, some graduating students walked out during Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s speech, showing support for Palestinians and disagreement with Youngkin’s education policies.
A silent protest also took place at Wisconsin-Madison’s commencement, where a group carrying a Palestinian flag walked through the stadium. They left voluntarily, with no arrests made.
These protests followed an agreement made by pro-Palestinian protesters at Wisconsin-Madison to dismantle their encampment and not disrupt graduation ceremonies. In return, they were promised a chance to engage with university decision-makers and increased support for students affected by conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
At other universities like UNC Chapel Hill and UT Austin, similar demonstrations occurred, with protesters splattering red paint and holding up Palestinian flags.
At UC Berkeley, protesters waved flags and chanted during commencement, later moving to the back of the stadium. While there were no major counterprotests, some attendees felt the demonstrations disrupted the celebratory mood.
These protests highlight ongoing activism on college campuses around the Palestinian cause, illustrating the complexities of free speech within academic settings.