In a show of solidarity with the ongoing conflict in Gaza, dozens of students at the University of Chicago walked out of their commencement ceremony on Saturday. The university had withheld the diplomas of four graduating seniors due to their involvement with a pro-Palestinian encampment, sparking outrage among the student body.

The disruption occurred during the outdoor ceremony, with students chanting and holding Palestinian flags, while some wore traditional keffiyeh scarves to symbolize their support for Palestinian solidarity. The walkout took place between speeches, and a demonstration followed the official ceremony, with calls to "Stop Genocide" echoing through the crowd.

According to student group UChicago United for Palestine, the four graduating seniors, including Youssef Haweh, were informed via email that their degrees would be withheld pending a disciplinary process related to complaints about the encampment. Haweh expressed his frustration, stating, "My diploma doesn't matter when there are people in Palestine and in Gaza that will never walk a stage again, who will never receive a diploma. What about them? Who's going to fight for them?"

University officials acknowledged the walkout, emphasizing the school's commitment to upholding the rights of students to express a wide range of views. This sentiment has been echoed in recent weeks, as students around the country have protested by walking out of commencements at institutions such as Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, demanding that their universities cease doing business with Israel or companies supporting the war in Gaza.

After the commencement, a small demonstration took place where protesters attempted to access a closed street, leading to the arrest of one individual unrelated to the university, as stated by university officials. The university had cleared the encampment on May 7, initially adopting a permissive approach but later expressing concerns about safety as the protest escalated, including the temporary takeover of a campus building.

University officials have cited formal complaints, including allegations of disruptive conduct, as the basis for further review. The students were still able to participate in graduation but will only receive their degrees if they are cleared of alleged violations of campus policy after a university inquiry. There has been no comment from the university regarding the status of the withheld diplomas.

The controversy has garnered significant attention, with thousands of students and faculty members signing a petition urging the university to grant the degrees and over a dozen members of the Chicago City Council penning a letter supporting the same cause.

As the conflict in Gaza continues, protests like these serve as a powerful reminder of the deep emotions and divisions this issue evokes on college campuses across the United States and beyond.