Images have emerged of protesters chanting anti-war messages and waving flags at the University of Michigan’s graduation ceremony on Saturday.
Many student-protesters dressed in robes could be seen waving Palestinian flags and shouting, “Palestine will live forever” and “Reveal, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest,” as the event progressed.
In one video, people can be heard cheering and applauding the graduates as their name is called.
While in another video, several graduates can be heard shouting: ‘Shut the fuck up’, in a sing-song voice, while another denounces: ‘You’re ruining our graduation!’ while other students sing.
Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate during the University of Michigan’s spring 2024 graduation ceremony at Michigan Stadium.
Many robed student-protesters could be seen waving Palestinian flags and shouting “Palestine will live forever” and “Reveal, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest” as the event progressed.
Rawan Antar, 21, center, sings in support of Palestinians during the University of Michigan’s spring 2024 graduation ceremony.
Graduates sporting Israeli flags and badges shout at pro-Palestinian protesters as they demonstrate.
A protest banner read: “There are no universities left in Gaza.”
A plane also flew overhead during the ceremony with the message “Free Palestine” and “divest from Israel now.”
In response, another plane flew over the area saying: ‘We are with Israel.’ “Jewish lives matter.”
No arrests have yet been reported and the protest, made up of about 50 people, many of whom wore the traditional Arab keffiyeh along with their graduation caps, caused no serious problems during the nearly two-hour event.
Saturday’s incident comes just a day after the University of Michigan School of Music faced a similar anti-Israel protest during its graduation, which lasted only minutes before police arrived.
Pictured: Anti-Israel protesters disrupt the graduation ceremony at the University of Michigan School of Music.
No arrests have been reported following Saturday’s protest.
A plane with a banner reading “We support Israel jewishlivesmatter.us” flies overhead
Graduates wave Israeli flags at pro-Palestinian protesters in response
Graduate Ari Belchinsky wears pro-Israel badges
US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, who was giving a speech, was forced to pause several times and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, if I would call your attention back to the podium.”
While swearing in military graduates, Del Toro said they would “protect the freedoms we hold dear,” including the “right to peacefully protest.”
The university allowed protesters to set up camp on campus, but police helped break up a large gathering last night and one person was arrested.
Some schools have reached agreements with protesters to end demonstrations and reduce the possibility of disrupting final exams and graduations.
While other tent camps have been dismantled and protesters arrested during the police crackdown.
According to the Associated Press, more than 2,400 people have been arrested on 47 college campuses.
NYPD police officers dressed in riot gear burst through the window of a Columbia University building occupied by dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters to begin clearing them out.
Police use a vehicle called ‘The Bear’ to enter Hamilton Hall from a public street, which was occupied by protesters, as other officers enter the Columbia University campus.
Police clash with pro-Palestinian supporters at an encampment at the University of Wisconsin’s Library Mall on Wednesday.
In Princeton, New Jersey, 18 students also began a hunger strike in an effort to pressure the university to divest from companies linked to Israel.
David Chmielewski, a Princeton senior and hunger striker, said it all started with just consuming water.
He said the hunger strike will continue until university administrators meet with students about their demands, which include amnesty from criminal and disciplinary charges for protesters.
Other protesters participate in “solidarity fasts” that last 24 hours, Chmielewski said.
Police remove a protester from the line and take him into custody as law enforcement clears an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Arizona campus early Wednesday.
Last week, Chancellor Andrew Guzmán wrote a letter to the university community about the cancellation of the valedictory address. “While this is disappointing, tradition must give way to security,” he wrote.
On Tuesday night, police raided a hall at Columbia University where activists had occupied the building.
Pro-Palestinian protester treated “after being macerated” during violent clashes at UCLA
Princeton students set up a protest camp and some staged a sit-in at an administration building earlier this week, leading to about 15 arrests.
Students at other universities, including Brown and Yale, launched similar hunger strikes earlier this year, before the most recent wave of protest encampments.
Columbia University, where the protests began, moved the rest of the year to a hybrid learning style after protesters took control of Hamilton Hall and renamed it ‘Hind’ Hall.
The University of Southern California canceled its first graduation ceremony due to protests.
