USF student holds up Palestinian flag on graduation stage

Jeff Patterson
·2 min read
3

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — As graduation ceremonies get underway this week at USF, parents and students are voicing concerns that the commencements will be disrupted by pro-Palestine protesters.

Thursday, doctoral candidates had their chance to celebrate their accomplishments, with only one minor display on stage.

Many of the students receiving graduate honors on Thursday have worked eight years or more to receive their degrees.

“I’m getting my Doctor of Nursing Practice,” Linda Passman said.

Before the ceremony began, she was concerned about protesters.

“I would hope that they would leave the special ceremonies, that are all this weekend, alone and let these people celebrate their accomplishments,” Passman said.

On the campus of USF this week, 13 people were arrested. A majority of them were not students.

Police in riot gear fired tear gas on Tuesday to break up a group that was attempting to set up tents to form an encampment. University officials had warned earlier in the week that such an encampment would not be permitted.

President Joe Biden condemned disruptive protests on Thursday, like the one at USF earlier in the week.

“Trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations, none of this is a peaceful protest,” Biden said.

As the graduation ceremony took place on Thursday, only one student displayed a Palestinian flag as she walked across the stage to receive her degree. As she held the flag, people could be heard in the audience booing and the student took down the flag as she exited the stage.

It was the only display of its kind during the evening.

A university official said they will evaluate the incident to see if disciplinary measures will be taken, but the official added that the student took down the flag immediately when she was instructed to do so, and that will be a factor in the decision.

Ceremonies continue on Friday morning.

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