Student calls to end the war in Gaza have intensified at the University of Michigan’s graduation ceremony this weekend, marking a visible collision between the traditional graduation celebration and political activism.
A Visible Display of Solidarity
During the commencement ceremony at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, around 75 student protesters, many wearing traditional Arabic keffiyehs paired with their graduation caps, marched through the crowd. They held signs bearing messages such as “No universities left in Gaza” and chanted, “We demand you to divest, as funding continues the unrest.”
Overhead, planes flew banners with opposing views. One said, “Divest from Israel now! Free Palestine!” while another read, “We stand with Israel. Jewish lives matter.”
Despite the protest, no arrests were made, and the event continued as planned, attracting tens of thousands of attendees. Some of them responded to the protest by waving Israeli flags.
University’s Response to the Protests
State police halted the demonstrators before they could reach the graduation stage. While university spokesperson Colleen Mastony disclosed that public safety personnel had guided the protesters to the rear end of the stadium. “Peaceful protests like this have taken place at U-M commencement ceremonies for decades,” she noted.
Secretary of the U.S. Navy, Carlos Del Toro, paused his speech a few times due to the protests and reminded attendees to focus on the podium. Before administering an oath to the armed forces graduates, Del Toro emphasized their role, saying they would be “protecting the freedoms that we so cherish,” including the right to peaceful protest.
Protests at Other Universities
The University of Michigan was not alone. Indiana University, Ohio State University, and Northeastern University in Boston also braced for similar protests. More protests are anticipated in the coming weeks at universities across New York, including Columbia University, NYU, and CCNY. Columbia University has even requested the NYPD maintain a presence on campus until after its planned May 15 graduation.
A Nationwide Student Movement
Encampments of protesters requesting universities to cease business with Israel or companies reported to support the war in Gaza have multiplied across campuses. This student movement has led some schools to reach agreements with the protesters to end demonstrations and alleviate disruptions to final exams and graduations.
Nevertheless, many encampments have been broken down in police enforcement, and several arrests have been made. The Associated Press has documented at least 61 incidents since April 18, with over 2,400 people arrested on 47 college and university campuses.
Hunger Strikes and Other Acts of Protest
Princeton University in New Jersey became the latest to see students resorting to hunger strikes. Senior David Chmielewski said the hunger strike would continue until university administrators meet with students about their demands.
Simultaneously, other demonstrators are participating in “solidarity fasts” lasting 24 hours to support the cause. Brown and Yale universities had similar hunger strikes earlier this year.
Different Ends to Protests at Various Universities
Elsewhere, the University of Virginia saw the police break up a demonstration deemed an “unlawful assembly”. However, at Tufts University near Boston, students peacefully dismantled their protest encampment without any law enforcement involvement. Although university officials were pleased, protest organizers expressed their disappointment with failed negotiations.
These student protests originate from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Israel’s ensuing offensive in Gaza has killed thousands, mainly civilians, and displaced most of Gaza’s inhabitants, raising international concern and sparking these student-led protests.
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