Scores of graduating students at Yale University staged a walkout during 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.
As Yale President Peter Salovey began announcing candidates for degrees, at least 150 students stood up, turned their backs to the stage, and marched out of the ceremony. The protesters carried banners with slogans like “Books not bombs” and “Divest from war,” with some wearing red latex gloves symbolizing bloodied hands.
The walkout, met with cheers from fellow students, was peaceful and did not disrupt the event. This protest is part of a larger movement on U.S. campuses, with universities like USC and Duke also experiencing demonstrations related to the conflict in Gaza.
Meanwhile, at UC Santa Cruz, academic workers went on strike to protest the university’s handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The strike, organized by the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 4811, included hundreds of unionized academic researchers, graduate teaching assistants, and post-doctoral scholars.
The strike at UC Santa Cruz is the first union-backed protest in solidarity with pro-Palestinian student activists. The strikers are demanding amnesty for grad students arrested or facing discipline for their involvement in the protests. The University of California has filed an unfair labor practice complaint to halt the strike.
The protests highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the challenges faced by academic institutions in balancing freedom of expression with maintaining a safe and inclusive campus environment.