Columbia students tore diplomas during graduation ceremony to protest war in Gaza

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Columbia University Graduates Tear Diplomas in Protest Against War in Gaza

Freshly minted graduate students from Columbia University in the United States made a bold statement during their small graduation ceremonies last week by protesting against the ongoing war in Gaza. In a show of defiance, some students went on stage carrying handcuffs, holding pro-Palestinian signs, and even tearing up the diplomas they had just received.

The acts of protest during the ceremonies, which were scaled down due to weeks of violent anti-Israel demonstrations on campus, were met with mixed reactions from the audience. One graduate, Tarsis Salome, a social work student, went as far as tearing her diploma into pieces after walking on stage with her hands cuffed above her head.

Another graduate, Maliha Fairooz, had the name of a Hamas leader, Mazen Jamal Al-Natsheh, written on her cap as she received her degree in handcuffs. The protests at Columbia University led the school to cancel its main graduation ceremony in favor of smaller gatherings.

Meanwhile, at Duke University in North Carolina, a small group of graduates objected to pro-Israel comedian Jerry Seinfeld’s speech at their graduation ceremony. Approximately 30 out of the 7,000 students in attendance chanted “Palestine. free” as Seinfeld received an honorary doctorate from the university.

These protests are part of a larger trend on college campuses across the United States, where students have been demanding divestment from Israel and companies supporting it. The demonstrations have led to nearly 2,900 arrests at 57 colleges and universities nationwide.

Despite clashes and tensions surrounding the protests, this weekend’s inauguration events at various universities were largely peaceful. Students continue to use their platform to advocate for the rights of Palestinians and raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The University of Southern California even prevented a valedictorian, who publicly supported the Palestinians, from delivering his keynote address at the graduation ceremony due to security concerns. The university later canceled its main graduation ceremony altogether.

The actions of these students reflect a growing sentiment among young people in the United States who are calling for justice and solidarity with the Palestinian people amidst escalating violence in the region.

(With information from AP)