Education

Some Graduating Students at University of Michigan's Commencement Ceremony Protest Israel

May 04, 2024, 7:00 PM by  Allan Lengel


U-M protest (Photo: Screenshot from MLive video)

A group of about four dozen graduating students stood during the commencement ceremony Saturday at the University of Michigan's Big House in Ann Arbor, chanting for the school to divest from companies with ties to Israel, the Detroit News reports.

They then peacefully walked through the center aisle with a banner, “No universities left in Gaza." The protest drew a mix of boos and cheers, the News reports.

Additionally, hundreds of graduates wore keffiyehs or keffiyeh stoles in support of the Palestinians and opposition to the war.


A pro-Israel banner that flew above.

Meanwhile, ABC News reported that a plane with a pro-Israel banner flew over the stadium, which read: "WE STAND WITH ISRAEL. JEWISH LIVES MATTER."

The protests come as cease fire negotiations in the Middle East seem to be picking up steam. There have been many false starts in the past. 

The war began on Oct. 7 after Hamas attacked Israel, killing at least 1,200 people and kidnapping well over 200 people.

Israel has responded with intense attacks in Gaza. The Palestinian health authority  reports that more than 34,000 people have been killed in Gaza during the war. Those figures do not differentiate between civilians and Hamas soldiers. 


Read more:  Detroit News


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