On Sunday, parts of the United States witnessed college graduates taking streets in support of Palestine in the never-ending war between Palestine and Israel.
What prompted the walk-outs?
On May 12, Duke University in North California held its graduation ceremony for the class of 2024 at the University’s football stadium.
Jerry Seinfeld, the American stand-up comedian who received an honorary degree from the university, was also called upon to deliver the commencement speech. 
However, there was a dramatic turn of events before initiating the speech. As soon as the Duke President Vincent Price introduced the comedian, numerous students in their graduation attire got up, holding a Palestinian flag and marched out while chanting “Free Palestine.”
🚨🇺🇸BREAKING: DUKE UNIVERSITY WALKS OUT OF GRADUATION
When Jerry Seinfeld was introduced to speak, the students got up, held up a Palestine Flag, and walked out.pic.twitter.com/p4pUfSUdjA
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 12, 2024
A person wearing a keffiyeh, an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian cause, was also spotted.
This was to protest its guest speaker for supporting Israel throughout the war in Gaza.
Seinfeld supports Israel
According to reports, Seinfeld has publicly supported Israel following the October 7 Hamas attack. He had travelled to a kibbutz in December to meet with the hostage’s families. His film’s press calls have been “uncharacteristically vocal” about his support for Israel through the ongoing war in Gaza.
Consequence of the walk-out
In Duke
Well, not all people at the ceremony joined the march. Those seated shouted “Jerry! Jerry!” as the actor received an honorary degree, and Seinfeld delivered his speech without major interruptions.
Jerry opened his address by saying, “A lot of you are thinking, ‘I can’t believe they invited this guy.’ Too late,” graciously handling the situation.
Outside Duke
Outside Duke’s stadium, students chanted, “Disclose, divest. We will not stop; we will not rest.”
Duke spokesperson Frank Tramble released a statement addressing the commencement ceremony scene at the university, “We understand the depth of feeling in our community, and as we have all year, we respect the right of everyone at Duke to express their views peacefully, without preventing graduates and their families from celebrating their achievement.”
The walkout can be remarked on as an inspiration for university students across the United States. It led to a string of student-led pro-Palestinian protests on campuses this weekend as colleges and universities from North Carolina to California held commencement ceremonies.
For instance, at the University of Texas, Austin, a student held up a Palestinian flag during a commencement ceremony and refused to leave the stage briefly before being escorted off by security.
These protests have forced universities such as Columbia and the University of Southern California to cancel their main graduation ceremonies this month. Other universities have relocated or modified commencement ceremonies.
About the war
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is an ongoing military and political conflict about land and self-determination within the territory of the former Mandatory Palestine. 
On October 7, a militant group, Hamas, killed 1,200 people and abducted 252 others. Israel’s military operations, meanwhile, have killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, according to Israeli tallies.
