In a remarkable display of solidarity and defiance, hundreds of students participating in the Harvard University commencement ceremony on Thursday staged a walkout, advocating for the freedom of Palestine. This action followed weeks of protests on campus and came just a day after the university imposed sanctions on 13 students for their involvement in a protest encampment.

Clad in their graduation robes, the students voiced their demands for justice, chanting "Free, Free Palestine" as they left the ceremony. The atmosphere was filled with calls for unity and support for their fellow classmates who had been denied the opportunity to receive their diplomas alongside their peers.

During her speech as the student speaker, Shruthi Kumar passionately addressed the issue, asserting that the students' freedom of speech and expressions of solidarity had been unjustly punished. The mention of the "13 undergraduates in the class of 2024 who will not graduate today" garnered overwhelming support and applause from the graduating cohort.

Kumar expressed disappointment at what she viewed as an intolerance for freedom of speech and the right to civil disobedience on campus. She highlighted the widespread support received through petitions signed by over 1,500 students, as well as the voices of nearly 500 staff and faculty members who stood up against the sanctions. The message, she emphasized, was not simply about the students, but about upholding democratic principles and civil rights.

The encampment that sparked these events called for a ceasefire in Gaza and urged Harvard University to divest from companies supporting the war. The walkout during the commencement was designed to send a clear message that the students were advocating for peaceful protests and the protection of freedom of expression.

Commencement speaker Maria Ressa, a journalist and advocate for freedom of the press, addressed the graduates, stating that one's true identity is revealed through the courage to fight for what they believe in. Ressa expressed her support for the protests taking place on campuses, emphasizing that they should be nonviolent and not silenced.

Alaha Nasari, a graduate with a degree in the history of science and global health, explained that she and other students chose to walk out of the ceremonies when interim President Alan Garber took to the stage. This gesture was intended to underscore their dissatisfaction with the university's handling of the situation.

The walkout at Harvard's commencement reflects a moment of unrest and determination on college campuses across the United States, where students are advocating for social justice and exercising their right to peaceful protest. It remains to be seen how the university administration will respond to the students' demands, but it is evident that the students are resolute in their pursuit of justice and their fight for what they believe in.