As Jerry Seinfeld was about to deliver his commencement speech at Duke University, he was met with a walkout by dozens of students.
As Vincent Price, the president of Duke University, introduced the comedian, videos circulating on social media captured the moment when students in North Carolina left the stadium to protest Israel’s war in Gaza.
Amidst a fervent display of support, a group of students proudly waved Palestinian flags, their cheers of “Jerry! Jerry!” resonating through the air. However, not all sentiments were positive, as some could be heard booing in the background.
Seinfeld has shown his support for Israel after the 7 October Hamas attack. In December, he even visited a kibbutz to meet with the families of the hostages. According to The New York Times, Seinfeld has been unusually vocal about his support during press calls for his upcoming film, Unfrosted.
During his speech at Duke University, the comedian tactfully avoided touching on the controversial topic that had sparked protests. However, he did receive an enthusiastic response from the audience when he briefly acknowledged his Jewish heritage.
“I was raised as a Jewish boy in New York,” he explained. “It’s quite a privilege when it comes to pursuing a career in comedy.”
student walkout at Duke university commencement as Jerry Seinfeld’s speech is announced. his introduction by university president is being drowned out by “free free Palestine” chants ❤️🔥🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/oNLesaput3
— the great clown snorman (@iamschvitzing) May 12, 2024
Chanting fervently outside Duke’s stadium on the Durham campus, students who supported Gaza fervently expressed their demands: “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest.”
Pro-Palestinian protests emerged in various parts of the country over the weekend, coinciding with the graduation ceremonies of colleges and universities spanning from North Carolina to California.
Pro-Gaza demonstrators at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill made their presence known by splattering red paint on the steps of a building prior to the school’s commencement ceremony. According to the News & Observer, the demonstrators also chanted on campus while students, dressed in light blue graduation gowns, posed for photos.
Approximately 100 students and family members walked out of Virginia Commonwealth University’s ceremony in support of Palestinians during Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin’s speech, as reported by WRIC-TV. Meanwhile, other attendees displayed signs expressing their opposition to his education policies.
Governor Youngkin, who was honored with a doctorate at the commencement, seemed to have not directly addressed the students who chose to depart from the event.
During his speech, he emphasized the importance of music, stating, “The world needs your music. You, all of you, will be the symphony. Make it a masterpiece.”
During commencement at Camp Randall Stadium, a silent protest took place by a small group of demonstrators at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A photo shared by the Wisconsin State Journal depicted approximately six individuals walking through the rear of the stadium, two of them carrying a Palestinian flag.
According to Marc Lovicott, a spokesperson for campus police, a group of individuals, who were wearing caps and gowns and believed to be students, were “kind of guided out but they left on their own.” No arrests were made in connection with the incident.
After agreeing to permanently dismantle their two-week-old encampment and not disrupt graduation ceremonies, pro-Palestinian protesters on the campus of [University Name] staged a demonstration. The purpose of the demonstration was to connect with the “decision-makers” who have control over the university’s investments before July 1st. In response to the protesters’ demands, the university has committed to increasing support for scholars and students affected by conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
During a commencement ceremony at the University of Texas, Austin, a student made a bold statement by holding up a Palestinian flag. Despite being asked to leave the stage, the student stood their ground, only to be eventually escorted off by security.
During the commencement at the University of California, Berkeley, a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators started waving flags and chanting. They were then escorted to the back of the stadium, where others joined them, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. Although there were no significant counterprotests, some attendees expressed their frustration.
Annie Ramos, whose daughter is a student, expressed her frustration, stating, “I feel like they’re spoiling it for those of us who purchased tickets and attended to celebrate our graduates. There’s a proper time and place for everything, and this is definitely not it.”
On Saturday, the events were not as intense as those that occurred on Friday at other campuses. At the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, police made numerous arrests as they dismantled pro-Gaza protest encampments. Prior to that, police used tear gas and removed a similar camp at the University of Arizona.
According to a report by The Associated Press, there have been at least 75 recorded instances of arrests at campus protests in the United States since April 18. These arrests have occurred at 57 colleges and universities, with nearly 2,900 people being taken into custody.
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