Virginia Commonwealth University Students Walk Out Of Graduation | News

Dozens of Virginia Commonwealth University students walked out of their graduation ceremony on Saturday, partly over a speaker’s response – the state governor – to campus protests.

It comes as US school officials brace for possible disruptions of commencement events over Israel-Gaza war protests.
Dozens of colleges roiled by protests are holding graduations this weekend.

More than 2,000 people have been arrested since protest began mid-April.

Social media posts on Saturday showed Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) students in caps and gowns leaving the room as Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin began his commencement address.

Thirteen people, including six students, were arrested at VCU when the encampment there was cleared by police on 29 April.

Mr Youngkin’s speech went on as planned despite the walk-out. He later posted a message on social media congratulating graduates and did not comment on the protest.

At another commencement on Saturday, the University of California Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ opened the ceremony by acknowledging the weeks of demonstrations from protesters.

“I’m saddened by how this conflict has divided students, faculty and staff,” she said, according to the LA Times.