Current:Home > FinanceDuke students walk out to protest Jerry Seinfeld's commencement speech in latest grad disruption-LoTradeCoin
Duke students walk out to protest Jerry Seinfeld's commencement speech in latest grad disruption
View Date:2024-12-23 20:20:08
Dozens of students participated in a walkout during Duke University's commencement ceremony on Sunday to protest comedian Jerry Seinfeld, a supporter of Israel who was invited as the guest speaker.
The walkout was one of the latest commencement disruptions to come amid continued protests on college campuses of Israel's war in Gaza. On Saturday, protesting students at Virginia Commonwealth University walked out as Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivered the commencement address. On the same day, students at the University of California, Berkeley interrupted commencement with pro-Palestinian chants.
In North Carolina, students dressed in caps and gowns got up from their seats in Duke's football stadium and headed toward the exit; several waved Palestinian flags and shouted "free, free Palestine," videos show. Chants of "Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!" could be heard from the stands as Seinfeld received an honorary degree.
The comedian, who has supported Israel throughout the war in Gaza, gave his speech largely without interruption.
"A lot of you are thinking, 'I can't believe they invited this guy.' Too late," he said, before moving on to the concept of privilege. "I say, use your privilege. I grew up a Jewish boy from New York. That is a privilege if you want to be a comedian."
Universities across the country announced changes ahead of commencement and various graduation events, some much more drastic than others. Columbia University and the University of Southern California canceled their main commencement ceremony. Others, like Emory University in Atlanta and Pomona College outside of Los Angeles, moved large graduation events off campus. Several universities that did not change locations or cancel commencement have said they've taken extra measures to ensure the events run smoothly, like upping security.
Commencement speakers removed, others drop out
In addition to the protests, speakers themselves have either been removed from commencement plans or chose to drop out themselves.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield has been removed from the commencement program of Xavier University in Louisiana and the University of Vermont after an uproar of rebukes from students.
Last week, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead backed out of his planned speech at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, calling the university's decision to call police on student protesters "a shameful act." Days before Whitehead's announcement, police arrested over 130 people and dismantled a pro-Palestinian encampment.
Before the University of Southern California canceled its mainstage graduation, it canceled a planned commencement speech by valedictorian Asna Tabassum, who faced backlash from pro-Israel groups who accused her of espousing antisemitic views on social media. She said in a statement that she was silenced and subjected to "racist hatred because of my uncompromising belief in human rights for all."
For nearly a month, pro-Palestinian encampments, sit-ins and building occupations have popped up across hundreds of college campuses in the U.S. and overseas. The protests exploded in size and quantity after Columbia University had the New York City Police Department clear an encampment on April 18.
Contributing: Reuters; Jeanine Santucci and Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY
veryGood! (615)
Related
- Trump is likely to name a loyalist as Pentagon chief after tumultuous first term
- Tar Sands Pipeline that Could Rival Keystone XL Quietly Gets Trump Approval
- John Durham, Trump-era special counsel, testifies about sobering report on FBI's Russia probe
- Here's What Happened on Blake Shelton's Final Episode of The Voice
- 'Yellowstone's powerful opening: What happened to Kevin Costner's John Dutton?
- More gay and bisexual men will now be able to donate blood under finalized FDA rules
- Accidental shootings by children keep happening. How toddlers are able to fire guns.
- WHO ends global health emergency declaration for COVID-19
- Arizona Supreme Court declines emergency request to extend ballot ‘curing’ deadline
- Naomi Jackson talks 'losing and finding my mind'
Ranking
- Infowars auction could determine whether Alex Jones is kicked off its platforms
- John Durham, Trump-era special counsel, testifies about sobering report on FBI's Russia probe
- Schools ended universal free lunch. Now meal debt is soaring
- Across America, Activists Work at the Confluence of LGBTQ Rights and Climate Justice
- Suicides in the US military increased in 2023, continuing a long-term trend
- Titan submersible maker OceanGate faced safety lawsuit in 2018: Potential danger to passengers
- California Startup Turns Old Wind Turbines Into Gold
- Two doctors struck by tragedy in Sudan: One dead, one fleeing for his life
Recommendation
-
U.S.-Mexico water agreement might bring relief to parched South Texas
-
Horoscopes Today, July 23, 2023
-
What is the birthstone for August? These three gems represent the month of August.
-
Keystone XL Wins Nebraska Approval, But the Oil Pipeline Fight Isn’t Over
-
Man charged with murder in fatal shooting of 2 workers at Chicago’s Navy Pier
-
Feds penalize auto shop owner who dumped 91,000 greasy pennies in ex-worker's driveway
-
Critically endangered twin cotton-top tamarin monkeys the size of chicken eggs born at Disney World
-
Solar and wind generated more electricity than coal for record 5 months