What's happened
Pro-Palestinian protests disrupted multiple US university graduation ceremonies, with students walking out during speeches by Jerry Seinfeld and Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Demonstrations occurred at Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of California, Berkeley, and more, as students demanded divestment from Israel amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Why it matters
Pro-Palestinian protests at US universities during graduation ceremonies highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict. The demonstrations reflect a growing movement among students to push for divestment from companies supporting Israel's government, impacting the traditional celebratory atmosphere of graduation ceremonies.
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, small pro-Palestinian protests occurred at Virginia Commonwealth University and University of Wisconsin-Madison, with students walking out during speeches by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The New York Times reported disruptions at University of California, Berkeley and Virginia Commonwealth University, while The Independent covered protests at Virginia Commonwealth University and University of Wisconsin-Madison.
How we got here
Pro-Palestinian protests have been escalating on college campuses across the US in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Students are demanding that universities cut financial ties with Israel, leading to disruptions during graduation ceremonies. The demonstrations reflect a broader movement among students to advocate for Palestinian rights and push for divestment from companies supporting Israel.
Common question
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The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs, are an ethnonational group comprising the modern descendants of the peoples who have lived in Palestine continuously over the centuries and who today are largely culturally and
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Glenn Allen Youngkin is an American businessman and political candidate who is the Republican nominee in the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.