Small pro-Palestinian protests emerged sporadically Saturday as colleges and universities held commencement ceremonies, including dozens of Virginia Commonwealth University graduate students walking out during Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s speech.
While some of the estimated 100 students and family members who left during the Republican governor’s speech showed support for the Palestinians, others held signs indicating their opposition to Youngkin’s education policies, according to WRIC-TV.
At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a small group of demonstrators staged what appeared to be a silent protest during commencement at Camp Randall Stadium. A photo posted by the Wisconsin State Journal showed about six people walking through the back of the stadium, two of whom carried a Palestinian flag.
Marc Lovicott, a campus police spokesman, said the group, which he believed to be students because they were wearing caps and gowns, “was led out a little bit, but they left on their own.” No arrests have been made.
The demonstration came after pro-Palestinian protesters on campus agreed Friday to permanently dismantle their two-week-old encampment and not disrupt graduation ceremonies in exchange for the opportunity to contact “decision makers” who will direct the investments before July 1 in universities check. The university agreed to increase support for scholars and students affected by wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
Saturday’s events were less dramatic than what happened on other campuses Friday, when police made dozens of arrests as pro-Palestinian protest camps at the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were dismantled. The actions came hours after police tear-gassed protesters and demolished a similar camp at the University of Arizona.
The Associated Press has recorded at least 75 cases of arrests at protests on U.S. campuses since April 18. Nearly 2,900 people have been arrested at 57 colleges and universities. The numbers are based on AP reporting and statements from schools and law enforcement agencies.
At VCU, Youngkin, who also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at commencement on Saturday, did not appear to address the students leaving the event.
“The world needs your music,” Youngkin said during his speech. “You, all of you, will be the symphony. Make it a masterpiece.”
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Associated Press writers Rick Callahan in Indianapolis and Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville, Tennessee contributed to this report.
