Official announcements from Stanford University

500 Stanford Students Walk Out of Commencement During President Saller's Speech in Solidarity with Palestine

Jun 16, 2024, 08:03 PM

Hundreds of Stanford University students walked out of their commencement ceremony on Sunday in a powerful display of solidarity with Palestine. The walkout occurred during President Richard Saller's speech and was organized by the group Stanford Against Apartheid in Palestine. Approximately 500 students participated, waving Palestinian flags and heading to an alternate 'People’s Commencement.' The protest was in response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and included demands for the university to divest from Israel and to protest the shutdown of a 120-day sit-in for Gaza. The commencement marked the end of a tumultuous year at Stanford, which saw significant student unrest. The walkout was followed by deputies from the Santa Clara Sheriff’s Office.