The University of California, Berkeley, known for its history of student activism, saw a graduation ceremony on Saturday that was anything but traditional. What was supposed to be a day of celebration and achievement quickly turned into a platform for pro-Palestinian activism.
The ceremony began with Chancellor Carol Christ addressing the crowd, only to be met with boos from some graduating students. However, when she acknowledged the students protesting on campus in support of Palestine, cheers erupted. The atmosphere quickly shifted as dozens of students rose with signs and Palestinian flags, chanting for divestment and an end to the occupation in Gaza.
Student body president Sydney Roberts, in her speech, acknowledged the protest culture at Berkeley, expressing pride in the activism on campus. The chants continued, prompting the associate vice chancellor to warn the protesters to stop disrupting the ceremony or face removal. This led to a divide among the guests, with some cheering for the protesters and others in support of the ceremony proceeding as planned.
One graduate, Greta Brown, joined in the chanting, feeling compelled to show solidarity with her fellow students. As the protest grew, more students left their seats to join in, creating a crowd of about 500 behind the main stage. Security personnel eventually intervened, leading most protesters to move to the concourse above the stadium.
Despite the disruption, some protesters regrouped outside the stadium, continuing their demonstration with signs condemning Zionism and calling for alumni to withhold donations from the school. For graduating senior Sahar Enayati, the unconventional graduation ceremony was one to remember.
The event at UC Berkeley highlighted the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the commitment of students to use their platform to advocate for change. The blurred lines between celebration and activism made for a graduation ceremony unlike any other.
