Educators at Berkeley denied a graduating student his diploma during the spring ceremony at the Goldman School of Public Policy because he displayed a Palestinian flag and were adamant he dispose of it first.
As students crossed the stage to collect their diplomas, a video surfaced showing the moment when the student approached a faculty member, who then refused to hand over the diploma. One of the announcers stated, “Sorry, but you are not allowed to carry the flag,” emphasizing that flags were prohibited.
Footage indicated that students were instructed to remove their flags before the ceremony continued and diplomas were distributed. The tension escalated when the student holding the flag hesitated to comply, resulting in an interruption that lasted over a minute while the audience, composed of families and faculty, expressed discontent through boos. The announcer, in response, said, “We’re sorry, but that’s not our policy; that’s the university’s policy.”
The announcer reiterated that while flags couldn’t be displayed, students could carry them offstage before receiving their diplomas. Ultimately, the graduate chose to hand his flag to someone in the audience before returning to collect his diploma and quickly exiting the stage.
In the aftermath, the school faced criticism from student organizations upset by the event. A representative from the Campus Student Union remarked, “Graduation reflects a student’s identity and values,” and called the school’s actions an unwarranted overreaction that hampers freedom of expression.
A spokesperson for the university pointed out that guidelines for graduation ceremonies prohibit demonstrations and political displays that could disrupt events.
Interestingly, just last month, a Palestinian woman, previously imprisoned for a failed bombing attempt, had been invited to speak at the university. During a related event, she received a warm reception from attendees. Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian groups at the school continue to advocate for their cause, promoting messages centered on liberation.
The California Post reached out to the University of California, Berkeley for more insights regarding this recent situation.
