During Stanford University's commencement ceremony, over three hundred students staged a mass walkout while University President Richard Saller addressed the graduating class.

The protest, orchestrated by Students for Palestine, a student group advocating for Palestinian rights, coincided with Saller's call for graduates to embrace their futures with 'gratitude and optimism', alongside recognition of global suffering.

According to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle, Stanford University's 133rd commencement saw approximately 29,000 ticket requests. The ceremony conferred a total of 1,838 bachelor's degrees, 2,575 master’s degrees, and 1,003 doctoral degrees.

During his address at Stanford University, President Richard Saller reflected on the institution's challenging year, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. As he spoke, approximately 300 students staged a walkout, which was followed by deputies from the Santa Clara Sheriff’s Office. The walkout garnered cheers from many of the students present.

A notice shared on Instagram by Stanford Against Apartheid in Palestine earlier urged attendees to participate in a walkout during Stanford University's commencement ceremony. The notice invited graduates, friends, and family to leave the ceremony midway and join an alternative gathering outside the stadium. The purpose of the walkout was to demonstrate support for divestment and to show solidarity with Palestine during the graduation weekend.

Before the commencement ceremony, a group of six students distributed small Palestinian flags to graduates passing by. According to the report, several undergraduate students were seen wearing Palestinian flags draped over their backs.

Stanford University, like numerous other institutions across the United States (US), has become a focal point for pro-Palestinian demonstrations and encampments protesting Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip.

The demonstrations have sparked debates on campus regarding freedom of speech, with many students expressing concerns about the tense atmosphere impacting their sense of safety.

Image source: CNN