Moriah Balingit : “Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests Fade as US Graduations Spark Defiance”

A small group of Duke University graduates made headlines on Sunday as they protested against pro-Israel comedian Jerry Seinfeld speaking at their commencement ceremony in North Carolina. Approximately 30 out of the 7,000 students in attendance stood up from their seats and chanted “free Palestine,” creating a mix of boos and cheers in the audience.

Some of the protesting graduates waved the Palestinian flag in red, green, black, and white colours. Seinfeld, known for his iconic sitcom, was present to receive an honorary doctorate from the university.

Support for Israel Amidst Conflict

Seinfeld, who recently starred in the Netflix movie “Unfrosted,” has been a vocal supporter of Israel. His support for the country intensified after it launched an operation in Gaza to dismantle Hamas, following an attack that claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7. The war that ensued has resulted in the deaths of nearly 35,000 individuals in Gaza, predominantly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Nationwide Campus Protests

The protest at Duke’s graduation is part of a larger trend of student activism on campuses across the United States. Students have been setting up encampments and advocating for their schools to sever ties with Israel and businesses that support the country. Similar protests have been witnessed at Columbia University, UCLA, and Pomona College in Southern California.

At the commencement for Pomona College, pro-Palestinian protesters attempted to block access to the event, leading to a relocation of the ceremony to the Shrine Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles. The small liberal arts college, which faced protests on its campus stage last week, implemented additional security measures for the event.

Challenges Faced by Student Activists

Anwar Mohmed, a 21-year-old senior at Pomona College, highlighted the repeated calls for the institution to divest its endowment funds from corporations linked to the conflict in Gaza. Mohmed expressed frustration with the lack of response from the school, stating, “We’ve been time and time again ignored by the institution. So today we have to say, it’s not business as usual.”

Similar protests and demonstrations have taken place at other universities, including the University of California, Berkeley, and Emerson College in Boston. The wave of student activism has sparked debates on campuses regarding divestment and solidarity with Palestinians in the occupied territories.

Impact on Graduation Ceremonies

The disruptions caused by the protests have led to changes in graduation ceremonies at several universities. Columbia University canceled its main ceremony in response to student uprisings, while the University of Southern California prevented a valedictorian who supported Palestinians from delivering her keynote speech due to security concerns.

At DePaul University in Chicago, where graduation is approaching, the future of a student-led protest encampment remains uncertain. The DePaul Divestment Coalition, advocating for divestment from Israel-related economic interests, has faced challenges in negotiations with university officials.

Overall, the protests at various universities reflect a growing trend of student activism and solidarity with Palestinian causes on American campuses. The impact of these demonstrations on university policies and relationships with Israel remains to be seen.

Contributions to this report were made by journalists Ryan Sun in Los Angeles, Sophia Tareen in Chicago, and Kimberlee Kreusi in Nashville, Tennessee.

Disclaimer: The Associated Press’ education coverage is supported by multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. For more information on AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, visit AP.org.