Scores of graduating students staged a walkout from Yale University’s commencement exercises on Monday, protesting the Israeli war in Gaza, Yale’s financial ties to weapons makers, and its response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus. The walkout drew cheers from fellow students but was otherwise peaceful, with no mention made from the stage.
Nine protesters from Germany, Britain, France, Italy, and Spain are facing deportation from Greece after being arrested during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Athens School of Law. Police detained a total of 28 Greek and foreign protesters on charges of disrupting the operation of a public entity and damaging foreign property. Evidence against the protesters included various items such as leaflets, Palestinian flags, smoke flares, gas masks, helmets, paint cans, and banner poles. While Greek protesters were released pending trial, the nine foreign nationals remained in custody pending a decision on their deportation. Their lawyers have stated that deportation orders have been issued, preventing the defendants from attending their own trial. Pro-Palestinian supporters have been protesting in Greece since Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Greece recently abolished legislation protecting universities from police entry, sparking criticism from those who saw it as a threat to democracy.
Police arrested at least 25 pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Virginia and cleared an encampment as tensions flared on campus. The protesters were violating university policies by setting up tents and using amplified sound. The protests are part of a larger movement across U.S. campuses calling for an end to the Gaza war and divestment from companies supporting Israel. Other campuses, like the University of Michigan, saw peaceful disruptions at graduation ceremonies by pro-Palestinian protesters. Many schools have called in police to quell protests, resulting in over 2,000 arrests nationwide. The protests have become a political flashpoint in a divisive U.S. election year.
Law enforcement officers gathered at the University of California at Los Angeles to clear out a pro-Palestinian protest camp that was attacked by pro-Israel supporters the night before. The police were met with jeers and chants from hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists as they moved in to remove the encampment. Similar protests and arrests of pro-Palestinian activists have been reported at other universities across the United States in response to the conflict between Hamas and Israel.
Students at Columbia University set up a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on campus, inspired by a course called “Columbia 1968” about past protests. The encampment led to arrests and suspensions by the school administration, but protesters continue to demand divestment from companies supporting Israel. The protests have drawn support from various groups and have sparked debates and activities on campus. Despite criticism, students remain committed to their cause.