Article Summary –
Pro-Palestinian protests continued at commencements across universities in the US, resulting in nearly 3,000 arrests. Students at Virginia Commonwealth University staged a silent walkout during Governor Glenn Youngkin’s commencement address, protesting his policies and role in previous arrests of student protesters. The University of Southern California cancelled its main stage ceremony and a Muslim student’s valedictorian speech due to safety concerns, while protests also disrupted events at the University of California, Berkeley.
Pro-Palestinian Student Demonstrations Continue Across US Universities
Amid commencement ceremonies, student demonstrations and new encampments at universities countrywide persist, leading to roughly 3000 arrests, as reported by NBC News.
On Saturday, numerous students at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) boycotted the commencement address by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, as per video footage on X.
Despite last week’s arrests and official warnings against disruptions, VCU’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter staged a silent walkout to protest Youngkin’s policies and the arrests of pro-Palestinian demonstrators in April.
The university newspaper reported that the silent walkout was in response to Youngkin’s keynote speech. More footage showed graduates outside the convention center, holding signs reading “No graduation as usual”.
Attendees exiting the convention center after the ceremony began were denied re-entry. The university withheld comment.
Meanwhile, The University of Southern California (USC) held weeklong commencement events after canceling its main stage ceremony due to safety concerns regarding student protests. It also canceled the valedictorian speech by Muslim student Asna Tabassum, sparking additional tensions.
Tabassum accused the university of veiled racism and received wide applause when walking the stage on Friday.
Protests also disrupted commencements at the University of California, Berkeley. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that about 20 students stood up, waving signs and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine!”
At the University of Pennsylvania, officers in riot gear descended to arrest demonstrators who defied dispersal orders. Nine students were among those arrested.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators also defaced a campus building and erected a new encampment at UNC Chapel Hill on Saturday, as per WRAL.
University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell warned that there will be “no tolerance for any disruption” at the commencement ceremony.
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