Small pro-Palestinian protests held Saturday as college commencements are held

1 of 20 |

West Virginia University Muslim Student Association President Omar Ibraheem leads a chant during a pro-Palestinian protest at Woodburn Hall in Morgantown, W.Va., Saturday, May 11, 2024. (William Wotring/The Dominion-Post via AP)

2 of 20 |

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators are escorted out of the UW-Madison Commencement ceremony after Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin’s speech, at Camp Randall Stadium Madison, Wis., Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Samantha Madar/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

3 of 20 |

Pro-Palestinian students hold white t-shirts stating the message, “DIVEST,” as they protest during the UC Berkeley graduation at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

4 of 20 |

Pro-Palestinian students chants in protest during UC Berkeley’s commencement ceremony in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

5 of 20 |

Attendees hold an Israeli flag as pro-Palestinian students protest during the UC Berkeley commencement ceremony in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

6 of 20 |

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators are escorted out of the UW-Madison Commencement ceremony at Camp Randall Stadium Madison, Wis., Saturday, May 11, 2024. The students protested during Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin’s speech. (Samantha Madar/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

7 of 20 |

Graduates have their photo taken by the Old Well as pro-Palestinian protesters chant behind them at UNC Chapel Hill on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP)

8 of 20 |

A student wears a Palestinian flag decoration on a graduation mortarboard as first lady Jill Biden speaks at the Mesa Community College commencement Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

9 of 20 |

Pro-Palestinian students protest during the UC Berkeley graduation at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

10 of 20 |

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators carry a Palestinian flag during the UC Berkeley commencement ceremony in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

11 of 20 |

Demonstrators hold up signs as a third pro-Palestine protest interrupts the UC Berkeley Law School commencement at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, Calif. Friday, May 10, 2024. (Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

12 of 20 |

Demonstrators hold up signs as a second pro-Palestine protest interrupts the UC Berkeley Law School commencement at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, Calif. Friday, May 10, 2024. (Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

13 of 20 |

A pro-Palestine demonstrator and graduate refuses to shake hands and receive their diploma from UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky during the UC Berkeley Law School commencement at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, Calif. Friday, May 10, 2024. (Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

14 of 20 |

Palestinian insignia are seen on the stole of a graduate during commencement for the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering Friday, May 10, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

15 of 20 |

UC Berkeley Law School graduates wear T-shirts that read “UC DIVEST” as a form of protest during the UC Berkeley Law School commencement at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, Calif. Friday, May 10, 2024. Graduate Malak Afaneh, wearing “I”, has accused UC Berkeley law professor Catherine Fisk, the wife of the law school dean, of attacking her when she spoke in favor of Palestine at a gathering at his home. The university is investigating the incident. (Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

16 of 20 |

Police remove a protester on the University of Pennsylvania campus, in Philadelphia, on Friday, May 10, 2024. (Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

17 of 20 |

Police confront protesters at the University of Pennsylvania campus, in Philadelphia, on Friday, May 10, 2024. (Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

18 of 20 |

Several area law enforcement agencies stand at the intersection of University Boulevard and Park Avenue after ejecting a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators off the University of Arizona campus, Friday, May 10, 2024, Tucson, Az. (Kelly Presnell/Arizona Daily Star via AP)

19 of 20 |

Protesters lock arms on Penn campus as police clear the encampment showing support for Palestinians in Gaza, at University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, Friday, May 10, 2024. (Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

20 of 20 |

A line of police in riot gear walk past police dismantling pro-Palestinian encampment at MIT, before dawn Friday, May 10, 2024, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

By SUSAN HAIGH

Small pro-Palestinian protests popped up sporadically Saturday as colleges and universities from North Carolina to California held commencement ceremonies, including dozens of graduating students at Virginia Commonwealth University who walked out on an address by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

While some of the estimated 100 students and family members who left during the Republican governor’s speech showed support for Palestinians, others held signs signaling opposition to Youngkin’s policies on education, 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 rear of the stadium, with two carrying a Palestinian flag.

Marc Lovicott, a spokesperson for campus police, said the group, which he believed were students because they were wearing caps and gowns, “was kind of guided out but they left on their own.” No arrests were made.

The demonstration came after pro-Palestinian protesters at the campus agreed Friday to permanently dismantle their two-week-old encampment and not disrupt graduation ceremonies in return for the opportunity to connect with “decision-makers” who control university investments by July 1. The university agreed to increase support for scholars and students affected by wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

Not PARSE.LY: Colleges and universities

Cal State is saving its smallest campus by merging it with Cal Poly

UT System will expand free tuition and fees to undergraduates whose families make $100,000 or less

Students can now apply for federal college aid. Officials hope for a smoother rollout this year

At the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, pro-Palestinian demonstrators splattered red paint on the steps of a building hours ahead of the school’s commencement ceremony and chanted on campus while students wearing light blue graduation gowns posed for photos, the News & Observer reported. At the University of Texas, Austin, a student held up a Palestinian flag during a commencement ceremony and refused to leave the stage briefly before being escorted away by security.

And at the University of California, Berkeley, a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators began waving flags and chanting during commencement and were escorted to the back of the stadium, where they were joined by others, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. There were no major counterprotests, but some attendees voiced frustration.

“I feel like they’re ruining it for those of us who paid for tickets and came to show our pride for our graduates,” said Annie Ramos, whose daughter is a student. “There’s a time and a place, and this is not it.”

Saturday’s events were less dramatic than what happened on other campuses Friday, when police made dozens of arrests as pro-Palestinian protest encampments were dismantled at the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Those actions came hours after police tear-gassed demonstrators and took down a similar camp at the University of Arizona.

The Associated Press has recorded at least 75 instances since April 18 in which arrests were made at U.S. campus protests. Nearly 2,900 people have been arrested at 57 colleges and universities. The figures are based on AP reporting and statements from schools and law enforcement agencies.

At Virginia Commonwealth University, Youngkin, who also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters at Saturday’s commencement, did not appear to address the students who left the event.

“The world needs your music,” Youngkin said during his speech. “You, all of you, will be the symphony. Make it a masterpiece.”

___

Associated Press writers Rick Callahan in Indianapolis and Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed to this report.