The commencement ceremony held by University of California, Berkeley was interrupted by hundreds of anti-Israel protesters on Saturday morning. Many of the protesters were graduating students who wore caps and gowns, while others waved Palestinian flags and held signs denouncing the Israeli government. The protests follow weeks of unrest at U.S. universities over the Israel-Hamas war, with thousands of students participating in opposition to Israel. Chants of “Viva viva Palestina” and “Palestine will be free / From the river to the sea” were heard during the ceremony. Despite the disruptions, there were no violent incidents or arrests reported at the event.
A video posted to social media showed a group of students holding up Palestinian flags and clapping while shouting for an end to the occupation. One section of the crowd held a giant Israeli flag as a counter-protest. The controversial chant, “Palestine will be free / From the river to the sea,” was widely deemed antisemitic and led U.S. members of congress to pass a resolution condemning its use. The disruptions continued throughout the ceremony, but speeches went on with speakers occasionally acknowledging the rowdy sections. UC Berkeley officials confirmed that the protesters left voluntarily, without causing any violence or arrests.
Despite the disruptions, speeches during the commencement ceremony continued as planned, with Sydney Roberts, president of the Associated Students of the University of California, being interrupted during her speech but continuing on after the brief disruption. UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ commended the anti-Israel protesters for their passion against the violence in Gaza and the destruction of educational institutions. Before the protests erupted at the ceremony, graduating students expressed to the media that they were accustomed to protests on campus and did not expect any to get out of hand. The students recognized the importance of allowing protesters to express themselves, as long as it did not escalate into violence.
Reports from the event indicated that some sections of the crowd were completely full of protesters, while others were more scattered. UC Berkeley officials emphasized that the ceremony proceeded as planned, despite the disruptions, and that the university strives to celebrate the achievements of its graduates in a safe and respectful environment. The disruptions at the commencement ceremony were seen as a typical occurrence at UC Berkeley, with one student commenting that protests were a part of campus life and that they did not expect anything to get out of hand. Another student speculated that if any disruptions were to occur, they would be handled in an appropriate and peaceful manner, allowing individuals to express themselves during their graduation.
In the weeks leading up to the Israel-Hamas war, there had been increasing unrest at U.S. universities, leading to protests against Israel. The interruptions at the UC Berkeley commencement ceremony were part of this broader wave of protests. The anti-Israel protesters were met with some level of support from university officials and some students, who commended them for their passion and commitment to speaking out against violence and destruction in Gaza. Despite differing opinions on the protests, the ceremony proceeded without incident, with speakers and graduating students continuing to celebrate their achievements in a safe and respectful environment. While disruptions occurred, the overall tone of the event was one of peaceful protest and expression.
