Graduation Ceremonies Speak Loud and Clear Against Attempts to Divide, Intimidate and Silence Students

Across Canada and the United States graduating students engaged in courageous and militant actions to speak out against the U.S./Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and across the occupied territories. Through encampments and significant protest actions they have defied attempts to silence,  intimidate and criminalize them. In May, when many convocation ceremonies in the U.S. were cancelled, students held their own. In June in Canada, at their graduations, they wore Keffiyehs and scarves highlighting support for the Palestinian cause. They held up Palestinian flags and signs, gave out pins and in several cases, spoke out in Valedictorian speeches.

On several Canadian campuses signs were posted prohibiting flags and signs, and students entering their graduation ceremonies were searched and had these items taken from them.

A Palestine Solidarity organization at Concordia posted a report on Instagram which read:

"Brave and honourable Concordia students made their support for Palestine and their demands for divestment heard loud and clear during graduation.

"Concordia administration and university leaders snatched Palestine flags, banners and posters from the students before entering on stage. Security guards forcibly reached down people's gowns to make sure Palestine flags weren't hidden. They even threatened to prevent students from graduating."

Moving ceremonies were also held on a number of campuses to honour the youth killed in the Israeli genocide who will never graduate, and the graduating class of 2024 killed or displaced and their universities destroyed.

Across the U.S., where most graduations took place in May, students took similar actions, in some cases walking out of their graduations in their hundreds. Some universities including Columbia University and the University of Southern California canceled their all-school graduation ceremonies and only held departmental ceremonies.

Canada
University of Ottawa

Ceremony at uOttawa, June 15

Students at uOttawa held a moving ceremony on June 15 to honour the students of Gaza's Class of 2024 who will never graduate due to the Israeli genocide and its destruction of all the universities.

Kingston

Students at Queen's University honour Palestinian students who will not graduate, June 21

Trent University, Peterborough

University of Toronto

University of Toronto students held a ceremony outside Convocation Hall on June 3 to honour the graduating class of 2024 in Gaza. During the convocation ceremonies that took place for the university's different faculties from June 3 to 21, many graduating students found ways to express their stand with Palestine and demand that their tuition fees not be used to support the genocide. They managed this despite the university administration searching students when they entered the building and, in some cases, cutting the cameras away from students wearing Kheffiyas or carrying flags and signs.

June 3

June 4 (left); School of nursing, June 5


June 21

Toronto Metropolitan University

Ceremony to honour the Gazan students who will not graduate at Toronto Metropolitan University, June 19.

McMaster University, Hamilton

Guelph University

Student holds up Palestine flag as she crosses the stage; (right) diploma given out at convocation honouring the students of Gaza

University of Waterloo

University of Western Ontario, London

University of Windsor

Honouring the students of Gaza who will never graduate, June 8

Lakehead University, Thunder Bay

Simon Fraser University, Burnaby

June 11

University of Victoria

Ceremony at encampment honours students from Gaza who will never graduate

Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo

Valedictorian at Indigenous graduation ceremony denounces Israeli genocide and calls for a Free Palestine

United States

University of California at Los Angeles

People's Commencement, June 13

Graduation ceremony at University of California at Los Angeles, June 15

Stanford University

On June 16, during University President Richard Saller's speech, over 400 Stanford University students and their families walked out of commencement in protest of the university's investments in companies that facilitate the Israeli occupation.

University of Chicago

Hundreds of University of Chicago students walked out of their graduation ceremony to show support for students who had their diplomas withheld over their involvement in the pro-Palestinian encampment on the campus.

Over 50 graduating students at Northwestern University, some holding Palestinian flags, walked out of their commencement ceremony June 8 and joined dozens of family and community members outside the arena to protest the university's investment in companies and institutions connected to Israel. They held a ceremony of their own honouring those killed in Gaza.