President Martha Pollack’s final commencement speeches were interrupted by a pro-Palestine demonstration and walkout staged by the Coalition for Mutual Liberation. After entering Schoellkopf Field on Saturday, demonstrating graduates at each ceremony held up banners with messages including “Divest from genocide” and “Cornell profits from genocide.” Some graduates approached the podium with banners as Pollack began to speak. Walkouts at both ceremonies were organized by CML, a pro-Palestine coalition of over 40 on and off-campus organizations. CML is also collecting signatures from members of the Class of 2024 pledging not to donate to the University until it “no longer funds endless violence, starting with the Palestinian genocide.”A group of pro-Palestine graduates walks out of commencement. During Harvard University’s commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 23, over a thousand Pro-Palestine demonstrators walked out of the conferral of degrees in support of 13 undergraduates denied diplomas.

Source: Daily Sun May 26, 2024 08:21 UTC