Hundreds of students at Harvard University made a bold statement during the commencement ceremony on Thursday morning by walking out as degrees were being conferred. The walkout was in solidarity with 13 student protesters who were not allowed to graduate after a controversial vote by the Harvard Corporation the day before.
The atmosphere on the Cambridge campus was tense, with chants of “Let them walk!” echoing through Harvard Yard as more than 9,000 graduates and their families gathered for the ceremony. Interim president Alan Garber addressed the unrest, acknowledging the difficult times and calling for a moment of silence.
Student speakers strongly criticized the Harvard Corporation for barring the protesters from graduating, citing a violation of an agreement made between administrators and students. The move was seen as a punishment for the students’ involvement in campus protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The commencement speaker, Maria Ressa, a renowned journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, also spoke out in support of the student protests, emphasizing the importance of free speech and the right to protest.
The walkout culminated in a “people’s commencement” at a nearby church, where students shared stories of those affected by the conflict in Gaza and continued to advocate for their peers who were denied their degrees.
The controversy at Harvard reflects a larger national debate over universities’ handling of protests and free speech, highlighting the ongoing tensions on college campuses across the country.
