{"id":2232912,"date":"2024-04-29T17:01:02","date_gmt":"2024-04-29T21:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pro-palestinian-protests-threaten-graduation-ceremonies\/"},"modified":"2024-04-29T17:07:11","modified_gmt":"2024-04-29T21:07:11","slug":"pro-palestinian-protests-threaten-graduation-ceremonies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pro-palestinian-protests-threaten-graduation-ceremonies\/","title":{"rendered":"Protests Supporting Palestine Pose Threat to Graduations"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpro-palestinian-protests-threaten-graduation-ceremonies%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2232912&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Pro-Palestinian protests \u200don college \u2063campuses,\u200b notably at Columbia University, threaten graduation ceremonies for the class of 2024. Safety \u200dconcerns arise as\u200b demonstrations hinder\u200d events, affecting attending \u200bfamilies. President Minouche Shafik addresses the intolerable atmosphere. Graduating students from 2020 face added \u200cdistress. Protests continue with negotiations ongoing. Jewish Voice for Peace NYC\u2063 calls \u200bfor support. Similar \u2063protests\u200c spread nationwide.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Pro-Palestinian <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/first-amendment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>protester encampments<\/a> on college campuses across the country are threatening <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graduation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>graduation<\/a> ceremonies for the class of 2024, as many of the demonstrations are located at graduation sites and causing safety concerns for attending families.<\/p>\n<p>Protests have swept the nation in the past two weeks, starting largely with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/columbia-university\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Columbia University<\/a> and spreading to colleges nationwide in \u201csolidarity.\u201d Hundreds of students and other activists have been arrested in connection to the encampments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know that many of our Jewish students, and other students as well, have found the atmosphere intolerable in recent weeks,\u201d Columbia President Minouche Shafik <a href=\"https:\/\/president.columbia.edu\/news\/statement-columbia-university-president-minouche-shafik-4-29\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>said<\/a> in a message Monday to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/parents-furious-after-school-official-uses-their-kids-in-photo-to-defend-schools-staying-closed\/\" title=\"Parents Furious After School Official Uses Their Kids In Photo To Defend Schools Staying Closed\">school community<\/a>. \u201cMany have left campus, and that is a tragedy. To those students and their families, I want to say to you clearly: You are a valued part of the Columbia community. This is your campus too. We are committed to making Columbia safe for everyone, and to ensuring that you feel welcome and valued.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Adding to the concerns of many graduating students is that the college class of 2024 comprises many members of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-teachers-union-approves-tentative-deal-students-to-return-to-classrooms\/\" title=\"Chicago Teachers Union Approves Tentative Deal, Students To Return To Classrooms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/despite-insistence-by-democrat-politicians-and-medical-elites-empirical-evidence-does-not-conclusively-show-that-masks-reduce-the-spread-of-covid\/\" title=\"Despite Insistence by Democrat Politicians and Medical Elites, Empirical Evidence DOES NOT Conclusively Show that Masks Reduce the Spread of COVID\">high school<\/a> class<\/a> of 2020, most of whom were unable to experience a traditional high school graduation due to the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlease recall that many in this graduating class did not get a celebration when graduating from high school because of the pandemic, and many of them are the first in their families to earn a University degree,\u201d Shafik added.<\/p>\n<p>Students at the Columbia encampment were asked to disperse and remove their tents by 2 p.m. Monday, the 13th day of protest, but students blew through that deadline and rallied around the site when the time came. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/arizona-school-board-hosts-retirement-party-for-superintendent-though-senior-prom-remains-canceled\/\" title=\"Arizona School Board Hosts Retirement Party For Superintendent, Though Senior Prom Remains Canceled\">graduation ceremony<\/a> is set to take place on Columbia\u2019s main lawn, part of which is being occupied by the protesters, on May 15.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div>\n<blockquote data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>It\u2019s 2 pm \u2014 the deadline Columbia\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stephen-miller-president-trump-dealt-biden-better-hand-than-any-president\/\" title=\"Stephen Miller: President Trump dealt Biden better hand than any president\">president set<\/a> for students to leave the encampment. <\/p>\n<p>But the tents are still there, and now the lawn is surrounded by hundreds of protesters advocating for divestment <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/q6AShsDrLj\">pic.twitter.com\/q6AShsDrLj<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u2014 Bill Grueskin (@BGrueskin) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BGrueskin\/status\/1785006958216450281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 29, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Students at Columbia have consistently missed the deadline to leave the encampment, facing little or no pressure from the school\u2019s administration. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) criticized the school Monday afternoon, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/EliseStefanik\/status\/1785007487067824415\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>posting to X<\/a>, \u201cColumbia\u2019s empty threats and weak leadership have failed and surrendered Columbia\u2019s campus to the pro-Hamas antisemitic mob.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Shafik has been in talks with the protesters on an agreement to end the protests, but those have not been fruitful thus far. New York Mayor Eric Adams has suggested he is ready to send in the New York Police Department to clear the encampment but will not do so unless Columbia asks for assistance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce that request is made, you want to do it with the minimum amount of force because you are talking about young people, and you\u2019re not trying to, in any way, jeopardize their safety,\u201d Adams said, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/newyork\/news\/columbia-university-protests-may-15-commencement-ceremony\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>according<\/a> to CBS News New York. \u201cAs of this time, Columbia University stated that they want to sit down and speak with the students and the other college campuses as well, and we\u2019re not going to do anything unless the college campuses request such.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On Monday afternoon, Jewish Voice for Peace NYC, an organization with individual school chapters that are primary organizers for the encampments, issued a call to action across the city telling allies to show up at area schools.<\/p>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<p>Similar protests have popped up along the East Coast at Harvard University, Yale University, George Washington University, the University of Mary Washington, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the University of Georgia, and many others.<\/p>\n<p>The story is similar on the West Coast, where the colleges in southern California are roiled in protest with graduation dates fast approaching.<\/p>\n<p>At the University of Southern California, where the Los Angeles Police Department arrested nearly 100 protesters last week, school officials canceled the May 10 valedictorian commencement speech of Muslim student Asna Tabassum, citing safety concerns, but also following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C5oPPbWtgom\/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>social media post<\/a> from the group Trojans for Israel linking Tabassum to calling Zionism a \u201ca racist settler-colonial ideology\u201d and calling for the \u201ccomplete abolishment\u201d of Israel.<\/p>\n<p>Facing backlash over that decision, USC canceled all graduation speakers at the primary commencement ceremony but will still host smaller commencement events, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eastbaytimes.com\/2024\/04\/29\/amid-protests-over-gaza-southern-california-colleges-juggle-student-safety-graduation-plans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>according<\/a> to the <em>East Bay Times<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt senior Ruby Cayenne, who is Jewish and says she is a Zionist, expressed extreme disappointment because her graduation might be disrupted, telling the <em>New York Times<\/em>, \u201cI have put my blood, sweat and tears into getting this degree. The family on my father\u2019s side are Cuban immigrants and they fought hard to get into this country and to provide a life where their future generations can get an education.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cayenne said she has been harassed by pro-Palestinian students, who have called her things such as \u201cgenocide supporter\u201d and \u201cbaby killer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, not every university is altering graduation plans. According to the <em>East Bay Times<\/em>, the University of California, Irvine, which has also experienced large protests, will be running \u201cbusiness as usual,\u201d spokesman Tom Vasich said, adding that it will be \u201ca very different story from USC.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Protests backing Palestine at colleges nationwide, notably at Columbia University, are jeopardizing graduation ceremonies for the class of 2024. Safety worries arise as encampments hinder events at graduation locations, impacting families. Demonstrations have surged over the past two weeks, sparking concerns across campuses nationwide<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":179,"featured_media":2232913,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP24120673211492-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2232912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP24120673211492-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2232912","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/179"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2232912"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2232912\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2232913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2232912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2232912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2232912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}