College graduations across the US this weekend could become the latest flash points for the anti-war demonstrations that have dotted campuses across the country for weeks.
They will offer pro-Palestinian students an opportunity to criticise Israel’s war in Gaza and call on their universities to divest from Israel. Administrators are likely to focus on minimising disruptions as they grapple with the students’ demands.
Northeastern University and Ohio State University are among the schools set to host thousands of students and their families for commencement on Sunday, near the start of a weekslong graduation season.
On Saturday, dozens of pro-Palestinian students draped in flags, kaffiyeh and graduation caps briefly disrupted a graduation ceremony at the University of Michigan. Dozens of graduates also walked out of commencement in protest at Indiana University in Bloomington.
Universities have been relying on existing security protocols to keep order on campus. Some have indicated that they will add security features for graduation ceremonies, or set up designated areas for protests. But anti-war demonstrations have continued, and more than 2,300 people have been arrested or detained on campuses across the US in the past two weeks.
New York Times News Service
