Harvard commencement disrupted by 1,000 anti-Israel protesters
According to The Harvard Crimson, students got up from their seats and began to walk out of the ceremony once interim President Alan Garber started conferring degrees.
In a video from Harvardoop’s (Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine) Instagram account, the pro-Hamas student group took credit for the disruptions.
More than 1,000 graduates at Harvard University reportedly walked out in the middle of the university’s commencement ceremony to protest in support of 13 students who were barred from graduating as a result of involvement with on-campus anti-Israel protests.
According to The Harvard Crimson, students got up from their seats and began to walk out of the ceremony once interim President Alan Garber started conferring degrees.
Students reportedly raised Palestinian flags and chanted over Dean David Parkes, who raised his voice to overcome the chants coming from the students exiting the ceremony.
In a video from Harvardoop’s (Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine) Instagram account, the pro-Hamas student group took credit for the disruptions.
[RELATED: Graduation ceremonies nationwide plagued by disruptive Pro-Hamas demonstrations]
“Today, over 1000 Harvard affiliates and their guests walked out of Harvard commencement, disrupting the ceremonies, in solidarity with the people of Palestine and the 13 undergrads barred by the university from graduating as a result of their alleged involvement in the Gaza solidarity encampment,” the group stated.
“Our group of hundreds then marched to Harvard-Epworth Church, where ‘The People’s Commencement’ was held to honor the disciplined students and in solidarity with Gaza,” it continued. “While today might be commencement, this is just the beginning of the movement at Harvard!”
In a post on X from the Harvard undergraduate Palestinian Solidarity Committee, graduates were seen in gowns and keffiyehs while marching outside of the commencement ceremony holding various pro-Palestinian banners and Palestinian flags.
BREAKING: Hundreds of Harvard students and faculty have walked out of commencement in support of Palestine and the 15 seniors having their degrees withheld for protesting a genocide. pic.twitter.com/D0lGKrmzvq
— Harvard Undergraduate PSC (@HarvxrdPSC) May 23, 2024
Another post from inside the Harvard Commencement ceremony shows the moment that students got up in protest to leave, with graduates leaving the ceremony chanting: “Let them walk, Let them walk,” with one student overheard asking, “Are they really walking out?”
Hundreds of #Harvard students walking out of commencement, chanting “let them walk” in solidarity with 13 students who weren’t allowed to walk by the university.
Historic moments. Student solidarity will bring down Zionism. 🇵🇸✊️ pic.twitter.com/fXyvfkjnHh— Jalal #CeasefireNow (@JalalAK_jojo) May 23, 2024
One student orator who spoke at the university’s graduation reportedly went off script during her speech at the ceremony, speaking in support of the students not allowed to walk at graduation saying, “I am deeply disappointed by the intolerance for freedom of speech and the right to civil disobedience on campus.”
“I am deeply disappointed by the intolerance for freedom of speech and the right to civil disobedience on campus.”
A student speaker at Harvard’s commencement went off-script to discuss the protestors who were not allowed to graduate: pic.twitter.com/ucsS7eweYg— Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) May 23, 2024
Campus Reform has contacted Harvard University for comment. This article will be updated accordingly.
