Small-scale demonstrations took place during college commencement ceremonies across the United States on Saturday, as pro-Palestinian supporters gathered to voice their concerns and demands. From North Carolina to California, several universities saw students and family members leaving or staging silent protests during speeches and ceremonies.

At Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), approximately 100 graduating students and their families walked out on an address by Governor Glenn Youngkin, a Republican. According to WRIC-TV, some of those who left showed solidarity with Palestinians, while others criticized Youngkin's education policies.

Similarly, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a small group of demonstrators quietly protested at Camp Randall Stadium during the commencement ceremony. A photo shared by the Wisconsin State Journal captured the scene, with two individuals carrying a Palestinian flag. Campus police, identifying the group as students since they were wearing caps and gowns, guided them out without making any arrests.

The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, also witnessed pro-Palestinian demonstrators splattering red paint on the steps of a campus building hours before their commencement ceremony. The protesters chanted on campus while students dressed in light blue graduation gowns posed for photos, as reported by the News & Observer.

Meanwhile, at the University of California, Berkeley, a small contingent of pro-Palestinian demonstrators started waving flags and chanting during the commencement ceremony. They were escorted to the back of the stadium, where others later joined them, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Although there were no major counterprotests, some attendees expressed frustration at the disruption.

Annie Ramos, whose daughter is a student, stated, "I feel like they're ruining it for those of us who paid for tickets and came to show our pride for our graduates. There's a time and a place, and this is not it."

While these events were relatively less dramatic compared to Friday's incidents, when police made numerous arrests during the dismantlement of pro-Palestinian encampments at the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, they highlight an ongoing trend. The Associated Press has reported at least 75 instances of arrests at U.S. campus protests since April 18, resulting in almost 2,900 people being detained across 57 colleges and universities.

At VCU, Governor Youngkin, who received an honorary doctorate of humane letters during the commencement, did not address the students who left the event.

Saturday's pro-Palestinian protests during college commencement ceremonies signify the continued activism surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as students and supporters use these platforms to draw attention to their cause and advocate for change.