Cheers erupt as pro-Palestinian protesters removed from Michigan graduation

After pro-Palestinian protesters briefly disrupted the University of Michigan’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, videos shared to social media show the moment the crowd erupted into cheers as the group of students was escorted to the back of the venue.

About 75 people, many of whom held Palestinian flags and signs, protested on Saturday afternoon during the university’s spring graduation ceremony at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

The protesters marched up the main aisle while chanting and carrying signs, including a banner that read: “No universities left in Gaza.” While photos captured during the ceremony show numerous students donning traditional Arabic keffiyeh with their graduation caps, at least one decorated his cap with the Israeli flag.

Above the stadium, planes flew competing messages, with one reading, “Divest from Israel now! Free Palestine!” while the other read: “We stand with Israel. Jewish lives matter,” the Associated Press reported.

University of Michigan spokesperson Colleen Mastony told Newsweek in an email on Saturday evening that no one was arrested and said the protest did not delay the nearly two-hour ceremony, which “celebrated the achievements of 8,500 undergraduates and 6,622 graduate and PhD students before a crowd of 62,000 wellwishers.”

“The mood was joyous and the ceremony unfolded successfully and was completed without interruption,” Mastony said. “Approximately 75 protesters staged a small demonstration at the beginning of the program, walking up the main aisle and chanting before public safety personnel escorted them to the rear of the stadium, where they remained through the conclusion of the event.”

Mastony continued: “Peaceful protests like this have taken place at U-M commencement ceremonies for decades. The university supports free speech and expression, and university leaders are pleased that today’s commencement was such a proud and triumphant moment, worthy of the achievements of our extraordinary graduates.”

Videos shared to X, formerly Twitter, show the demonstration and the moment the crowd erupts into cheers as the group is escorted away. However, it was unclear at the time of publication whether the crowd was cheering in support or opposition.

The videos show protesters chanting phrases such as “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest,” and “Regents, regents, you can’t hide! You are funding genocide.” Israel has rejected the allegation that its actions in Gaza are genocidal.

Another video appears to show people chanting in response to the protesters, yelling “Shut the f*** up.”

X user Aviva Klompas captioned the clip: “The pro-terror mob is currently ruining graduation day at@UMich.”

Author Oil London shared a video of the demonstration and wrote: “University of Michigan commencement ceremony RUINED after mob of anti-Israel activists stormed the ceremony waving Palestinian flags. ‘Palestine will live forever.'”

Adam Y. Abusalah also shared a video of the protest on X, writing: “Graduates at the University of Michigan demonstrate for Palestine at the commencement ceremony in Ann Arbor today. ‘Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest.'”

U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, a commencement speaker, paused several times during his remarks, before saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, if you can please draw your attention back to the podium,” the AP reported.

Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian demonstrations have spread across campuses in the U.S. following the arrests of protesters who set up a “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” at Columbia University in New York City on April 18. Since then, encampment demonstrations began popping up at universities all over the country, and hundreds of protesters have been arrested. Participants have been demanding that universities divest from companies supporting Israel as well as a permanent ceasefire to end the Israel-Hamas war.

Israel responded militarily after Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, launched a surprise attack on October 7, 2023, on the country that killed roughly 1,200 people and saw over 200 more taken hostage into Gaza. In nearly seven months of fighting, the Palestinian death toll has surpassed 34,000, with more than 76,000 injured in the besieged territory, according to the AP, per the Gaza Health Ministry, which notes that at least two-thirds have been children and women.

The staggering number of Palestinian deaths has sparked widespread condemnation from across the globe. Meanwhile, some protests have turned disruptive and violent, prompting police intervention and causing top U.S. lawmakers to pass legislation. Last week, the House of Representatives approved the Antisemitism Awareness Act to address reports of rising antisemitism on college campuses amid allegations of Jewish students being targeted during campus protests.