Dozens of students walked out of a Duke University graduation ceremony Sunday as actor and comedian Jerry Seinfeld was about to give a speech, according to a video posted on social media.
A video posted on X showed people waving Palestinian flags and filing through a crowd of graduates at the University of North Carolina's football stadium.
Seinfeld's introduction by Duke University President Vincent Price was drowned out by people chanting “Free Palestine” and others shouting “Jerry! Jerry!”
Mr. Seinfeld, 70, who has supported Israel since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants, recently caused controversy with comments about what is still acceptable material for comedy today.
On Sunday, he received an honorary degree from Duke University and delivered the commencement address without any major interruptions, a livestream of the ceremony showed. The livestream did not show the students walking out.
His speech largely stayed away from politics, instead focusing on jokes about students, artificial intelligence, and privilege.
“Many of you are probably thinking, 'I can't believe I invited this guy. It's too late,'” he said after vowing to “defend” the concept of privilege.
“I say, use your privilege. I grew up as a Jewish boy in New York. If you want to be a comedian, that's a privilege,” he added.
As Seinfeld spoke, departing graduates shouted from the parking lot, “Disclose, disclose, we will not stop, we will not rest,” The New York Times reported.
The actor has not publicly commented on the strike.
“We are so happy and excited for the Class of 2024 and their families,” Frank Trumbull, vice president of marketing, communications and public relations at Duke University, said in a statement to CBS News. We understand the depth of people's feelings, and as we have done year after year, we want everyone at Duke to peacefully express their opinions without preventing graduates and their families from celebrating their accomplishments. I respect your rights.”
The demonstration by students was US campus in turmoil The protests continued for weeks as students called on the university to divest from arms suppliers and other companies that fuel and profit from the war.
In response to the protests, the following universities Columbia And that University of Southern California Canceling or reconfiguring major graduation ceremonies.
At the University of Michigan, students temporarily suspended classes. Ceremony earlier this month.
“Peaceful protests like this have been held at UM commencement ceremonies for decades,” university spokeswoman Colleen Mastony said after the ceremony.
This week, Xavier University in Louisiana and the University of Vermont I canceled my invitation to the entrance ceremony. Addressed to United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, citing student protests over the conflict in the Gaza Strip. Administrators at both universities cited pressure from students and the community over the Biden administration's support for Israel in its war against Hamas.
At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a small group of demonstrators staged a silent protest Saturday during a graduation ceremony at Camp Randall Stadium. A photo published by the Wisconsin State Journal showed about six people walking behind the stadium, two of them holding Palestinian flags.
Campus police spokesman Mark Robicott said the group, which he believed were students because they were wearing caps and gowns, “appeared to have been directed, but they left on their own.” No arrests were made.
Dozens of Virginia Commonwealth University graduates left after receiving a speech from Gov. Glenn Youngkin. According to WRIC-TV, some of the estimated 100 students and families who left during the Republican governor's speech showed support for the Palestinians, while some held placards expressing opposition to Youngkin's education policies. It is said that some people held it up.
At the University of Texas at Austin, a student displayed a Palestinian flag during a graduation ceremony, refused to leave the venue, and was escorted away by security.
At the University of California, Berkeley, a small number of pro-Palestinian demonstrators waved flags and began chanting during the opening ceremony, and were taken to the back of the stadium, where they were confronted by other protesters, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. It is said that he even joined the group. Although there were no large-scale counter-demonstrations, some participants voiced their dissatisfaction.
