Pro-Palestine protesters disrupt college commencement ceremony (VIDEOS) — RT World News
Activists chanted slogans against “financing genocide” during a ceremony held at Michigan Stadium
Dozens of pro-Palestine protesters disrupted the University of Michigan's spring commencement ceremony on Saturday, demanding that the college sever ties with Israel over the ongoing war in Gaza.
During the event at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, students wearing keffiyehs and graduation caps chanted “Rulers, rulers, you cannot hide! You are financing genocide!” And “Reveal, retract, we won't stop!” They raised Palestinian flags as they walked between the aisles.
Some of the attendees shouted insults at the demonstrators, and one of them shouted “Shut the fuck up.” Another person in the audience was heard shouting “You're ruining our graduation!”
According to the New York Times, a plane flew over the stadium with a sign written on it “Free Palestine” And “Withdraw from Israel now.” Another plane carried a message “We stand with Israel. “Jewish lives matter.”
🇵🇸 University of Michigan graduates demonstrate for Palestine at the graduation ceremony in Ann Arbor today. “Explain, withdraw, we will not stop, we will not rest.” 🇵🇸❤️ pic.twitter.com/ogbg5Tq3vL
– Adam Y. Abusalah (@adam_abusalah) May 4, 2024
A graduation ceremony at the University of Michigan was destroyed after a mob of anti-Israel activists stormed the ceremony waving Palestinian flags. “Palestine will live forever.” pic.twitter.com/Bmp3z0inmn
– Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 4, 2024
The protest came after more than 2,300 Palestine supporters were arrested on more than 70 US college campuses this week for sit-ins and refusal to leave makeshift camps on campus, according to an NBC News tally. On several occasions, police resorted to using stun grenades and pepper spray when students and activists failed to comply with orders.
The affected universities issued statements saying they had to seek help from the police because the demonstrators were disrupting the educational process and violating campus regulations. Pro-Palestine activists were also accused of attacking Jewish students and chanting anti-Semitic slogans.
“There is the right to protest, but not the right to cause chaos.” President Joe Biden said in a televised statement from the White House on Thursday, adding that the students did so “The right to walk across campus safely without fear of being attacked.”
More than 34,000 Palestinians were killed during the Israeli military campaign, which is approaching its seventh month. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated this week that the Israel Defense Forces would enter the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, crowded with Palestinian refugees. The Israeli army still intends to do so “Eliminate Hamas brigades” Netanyahu said in the region.
The latest round of fighting between Hamas and Israel broke out on October 7, when Palestinian militants carried out a surprise raid into Israeli territory, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostage. Dozens of prisoners were later released as part of a prisoner exchange during a week-long ceasefire in November.
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