Article Summary –
Several students walked out of Duke University’s commencement ceremony as comedian Jerry Seinfeld was set to deliver an address. The students, some waving Palestinian flags, were protesting Seinfeld’s support for Israel. The protest forms part of a wider trend of student-led demonstrations calling for universities to divest from companies profiting from war and which have led to restructured or canceled graduation ceremonies at other universities such as Columbia and the University of Southern California.
Student Walkout during Jerry Seinfeld’s Address at Duke University
Several students exited Duke University’s commencement ceremony on Sunday just as actor and comedian Jerry Seinfeld was about to deliver his speech, as seen on social media.
Footage showed students waving Palestinian flags and leaving the crowd at the North Carolina university’s football stadium.
Amid chants of “free Palestine” and cheers of “Jerry! Jerry!”, Duke University President Vincent Price introduced Seinfeld.
Seinfeld, 70, a supporter of Israel since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, sparked controversy recently over his views on comedy today. Despite the walkout, he was conferred an honorary degree from Duke and delivered his address without significant interruptions, as shown in thelivestream.
The speech eschewed politics for jokes about students, artificial intelligence, and privilege. As he spoke, the leaving graduates chanted demands for accountability and divestiture in the parking lot, as reported by The New York Times.
No comment on the walkout has been made by the actor. Frank Tramble, Duke’s vice president for marketing, communications, and public affairs, expressed respect for the peaceful protest and excitement for the graduating class.
These protests have echoed across US campuses, prompting universities like Columbia and University of Southern California to rethink their graduation ceremonies. Protests have also occurred at University of Michigan and elsewhere.
University of Wisconsin-Madison witnessed a silent protest during its commencement. Virginia Commonwealth University students walked out during a speech by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, expressing support for Palestinians and opposing Youngkin’s education policies.
A student waved a Palestinian flag at the University of Texas, Austin commencement ceremony and was escorted off stage. Pro-Palestinian protesters also made their presence felt at University of California, Berkeley’s commencement, as per San Francisco Chronicle.
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