Anti-Israel agitators across the United States disrupted graduation ceremonies on Friday and Saturday, after weeks of demonstrations over Israel’s war with Hamas disrupted campus life.
Demonstrations at graduation ceremonies varied in intensity, with some graduates engaging in disruptive behavior and others demonstrating silent demonstrations.
Here are some of the protests taking place from California to North Carolina.
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Anti-Israel protesters demonstrate at graduation ceremonies at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of California, Berkeley. (Getty Images)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Dozens of Virginia Commonwealth University graduates and their families walked out of the auditorium Saturday during Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s commencement address.
While some expressed support for the Palestinians, others held signs opposing Youngkin’s education policies, WRIC-TV reported.
University of Arizona
Police used tear gas on demonstrators and destroyed an encampment on the Tucson campus ahead of Friday’s commencement celebrations.
Police cars were attacked with spikes and rocks and water bottles were thrown at officers, the school said.
Administrators said a structure made of wooden pallets and other debris appeared on campus just after 5 p.m. Thursday, violating school policy. The university said its warnings to dismantle encampments and disperse were ignored.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
A small group of Wisconsin demonstrators staged a seemingly silent protest at graduation ceremonies at Camp Randall Stadium. A photo published by The Wisconsin State Journal showed about six people walking through the back of the stadium, two of them holding Palestinian flags.
On Friday, anti-Israel protesters on campus agreed to permanently dismantle their two-week-old encampment and not disrupt commencement ceremonies in exchange for a chance to network before July 1 with the “decision-makers” who control university investments.
The university agreed to increase support for academics and students affected by the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, anti-Israel demonstrators threw red paint on the steps of the chancellor’s office building hours before the school’s commencement ceremony.
Dozens of protesters gathered on the lawn surrounding the old well and began chanting while students and family members took graduation photos. Demonstrators then held a 15-minute silence to remember the thousands of people reportedly killed by Hamas terrorists in Gaza since October. attack israel and triggered military retaliation by the Israeli army.
University of Texas at Austin
At the University of Texas at Austin, a student holding a Palestinian flag during a graduation ceremony refused to briefly leave the stage before being escorted away by security.
After the graduation ceremony, graduate students, faculty and demonstrators walked out of the stadium holding “Free Palestine” flags, while others held up their hands painted red.
University of California, Berkeley
At the University of California, Berkeley, hundreds of anti-Israel protesters disrupted a graduation ceremony Saturday, waving flags and chanting slogans. Most were graduates wearing caps and gowns.
Photos showed hundreds of students wearing Arab headscarves, waving Palestinian flags and holding signs denouncing Israel. Demonstrators were escorted to the back of the stadium and were joined by others.
Duke University
Dozens of Duke University graduates walked out of comedian Jerry Seinfeld’s commencement address on Sunday, some chanting “Free Palestine.”
The student protesters’ walkout coincided with the introduction of Seinfeld, a Jewish and Israel supporter.
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Some students left the stadium holding Palestinian flags. Other graduates and guests chanted, “Jerry! Jerry!” as the comedian took the stage to receive his honorary degree.
Despite the interruption, Seinfeld managed to deliver his speech.
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The Associated Press has documented at least 75 arrests at U.S. campus protests since April 18. Nearly 2,900 people at 57 universities were arrested. The numbers are based on an Associated Press report and statements from schools and law enforcement agencies.
Fox News Digital’s Landon Mean and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
