A group of New York University student protesters walked out of their commencement ceremony at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, demanding that university leaders divest from Israel. The protesters, clad in graduation gowns, chanted “We will free Palestine” and made their voices heard as they walked out of the ceremony. Some had their hands painted red, while others displayed the Palestinian flag. The group called for the university to sever ties with Israel and divest from the country, making their protest clear and direct during the commencement event.
The NYU Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine labeled the commencement ceremony as a “distraction” in a social media post, indicating their dissatisfaction with the university’s ties to Israel. This demonstration is part of a larger trend, as student protesters at other universities across the U.S. have disrupted commencement ceremonies in various ways. At Columbia University’s School of Social Work, a student walked across the stage wearing zip-tie handcuffs and tore up her diploma as an act of protest. Columbia University had previously canceled its university-wide commencement due to security concerns related to anti-Israel protests, showing the impact of these demonstrations on campus events.
The protests were not isolated to New York City, as Duke University in North Carolina also experienced disruption during their commencement ceremony. A group of students carrying the Palestinian flag and chanting “free Palestine” walked out on comedian Jerry Seinfeld as he began his commencement address. Despite the protest, Seinfeld was met with cheers and chants of support, causing the protesters to be drowned out by the audience. This demonstrates the diverse reactions to protests during commencement events and the varying levels of support or opposition that protesters may face.
The actions taken by these student protesters reflect a growing trend of activism on college campuses concerning Israel and Palestine. By using their commencement ceremonies as a platform for protest, these students are ensuring that their voices are heard and their demands are known. The call for universities to divest from Israel and sever ties with the country is a powerful statement that challenges the status quo and calls attention to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. These protests are likely to spark further dialogue and debate on campus and draw attention to the impact of university investments on global politics.
University administrations are now facing difficult questions regarding how to handle these protests and maintain a balance between freedom of speech and security concerns. Columbia University’s president expressed regret over the canceled commencement and is now under pressure to address the situation and provide answers to the community. As more protests take place at universities across the country, it is clear that student activists are determined to use their voices and actions to advocate for change and challenge institutional ties that they view as problematic. The disruption of commencement ceremonies highlights the power of student activism and the importance of engaging in critical discussions on campus.
