UC Berkeley Graduation Ceremony Interrupted by Anti-Israel Protest - Chancellor's Past Resonates

On May 11, 2024, the University of California, Berkeley graduation ceremony was disrupted by a wave of boos, angry chants, and stomping feet. Hundreds of cap-and-gowned graduates voiced their antiwar protest with chants of “Viva, viva Palestina!” and “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Israel’s apartheid has got to go!”, nearly drowning out the ceremony’s official speakers and forcing the event to come to a halt.

As the disruption continued for several minutes, it seemed as though the commencement ceremony would be canceled midstream. The situation left many in suspense, uncertain of how the event would unfold.

Resumption of the Ceremony

In a surprising turn of events, the ceremony resumed, allowing the graduates to proceed with the event. Following the ceremony, Carol Christ, the 80-year-old chancellor of UC Berkeley, reflected on the incident. With a silver-haired and soft-spoken demeanor, she revealed her unique background as a former English professor and shared that her views on free speech were shaped during her years as a student protester in the 1960s.