Several hundred Pro-Palestine students walk out of Stanford Commencement
Over 400 pro-Palestine students walked out of Stanford’s 133rd Commencement ceremony Sunday morning, waving Palestinian flags, while President Richard Saller greeted graduates. Many more students who remained seated wore keffiyehs and waved Palestinian flags.
The walkout was planned by Stanford Against Apartheid in Palestine (SAAP) and publicized through social media. They also planned an “Alternative Commencement Ceremony Honoring Palestine” at Ueland field. While the location was not shared publicly before students walked out, flyers advertising the walk out were handed out as students entered the ceremony.
“We invite graduates, friends, and family to walk out of commencement into our alternative ceremony next to the stadium, to show support for divestment and honor Palestine this graduation weekend,” the post read. Students walked out after someone in the crowd signaled by yelling “stand up.”
The Commencement livestream remained focused on Saller, who commended graduates that matriculated amid a global pandemic and graduated during “tragic” wars.
The walkout followed the University’s removal of a pro-Palestine encampment in White Plaza, on the same day that students occupied the president’s office. Students who participated and a Daily reporter inside the building were arrested and charged with three felonies.
The Daily has reached out to the University for comment on the walkout.
SAAP has three demands on the University: add a divestment resolution submitted by SAAP — which was supported by undergraduate voters in the recent ASSU elections — to the next Board of Trustees meeting, with a recommendation from Saller supporting the bill, disclose finances from the previous fiscal year (2022) including endowment investments and drop all disciplinary and criminal charges against pro-Palestine students at Stanford.
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