NEW HAVEN, Conn. (TND) — Dozens of Yale University graduates staged an anti-Israel walkout during the school’s commencement proceedings Monday, according to videos circulating social media.
A student in graduation regalia pounded on a drum while others waived Palestinian flags in one clip shared by BreakThroughNews. A student with a megaphone led students in chanting “disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest.”
Other videos showed students whose hands were painted red carrying banners and cheering. One student appeared to raise their middle fingers at the camera. Police officers are also seen trying to prevent bystanders from interacting with the demonstrators as they pass by.
One video shows protesters chanting “free, free Palestine” over school officials as they confer degrees to graduates.
A Yale professor appeared to taunt pro-Palestine protesters with an Israeli flag while passing through the demonstration, according to another clip.
Yale’s Office of Public Affairs and Communications told The National Desk (TND) Monday it directed student protesters away from its main graduation so as not to interrupt the proceedings.
“During Yale University’s 323rd commencement held today on the university’s Old Campus, a number of graduating students chose to peacefully walk out during the ceremony,” it wrote. “University staff helped guide these individuals to an area outside the event space, and the ceremony continued as scheduled.”The office also quoted university president Peter Salovey, who recently said “we do not agree on everything, but we all have a responsibility to do our part in fostering a community in which we can have open, civil discussions about any topic, no matter how complex and how difficult.”
“As members of a university committed to learning and the search for truth, we can do no less,” Salovey continued.
Follow Jackson Walker on X at @_jlwalker_ for the latest trending national news. Have a news tip? Send it to jacwalker@sbgtv.com.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uLbAnKuvZpOkunC6xLCqaKaRqbawuoywpquklGSxsMbEp6pmp5ZixqK4xGaeq5mUqq61sdJmqq2Zl5p6sb7OZqeapJWowaq6xGaumqSbpMK1ecOepJqmlGLApLTOqKNmnJmrsrTAjJ%2BpqKVdnsCzrcSlZLKZnJp6trrIr5yrq5mpxm66xLBkoZmmmrtur86npZ6bpJ6wtsCMmqWtoV2ewLOtxKVkqaqfqbK0wIycpqallaOwprnEp6tmn6KWsbat06Kmp2WTmr%2Bmuc6nsA%3D%3D