At Duke University's commencement on Sunday, students staged a walkout as Jerry Seinfeld was introduced as the speaker. The protest stemmed from Seinfeld's public support for Israel, marking another incident in a series of college campus disruptions nationwide.
As the students exited the ceremony, they chanted “Free, free Palestine,” while some remaining graduates appeared to jeer at them.
The walkout sparked a flurry of online comments, with some suggesting the protest was motivated by Seinfeld's Jewish identity, leading to accusations of antisemitism.
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| David Swanson / Reuters |
Former U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger, a Republican from Illinois, tweeted, “So students at Drake [sic] walk out because the speaker, Jerry Seinfeld, is Jewish? This is antisemitism, cloaked in concern for Gaza.”
Democratic U.S. Representative Daniel Goldman of New York also commented on X, “Jerry Seinfeld is a Jewish American who has nothing at all to do with Israel’s foreign policy or military defense. Holding an American Jew responsible for the actions of the Israeli government is quintessential antisemitism.”
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| YouTube/ The Guardina |
However, the organizers of the walkout stated their protest was not related to Seinfeld's religion but to his outspoken support for Israel. They also urged Duke University to reveal its investments in Israel and to consider divesting from companies with ties to Israel, calling for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict.
Despite the walkout, Seinfeld received an honorary degree and delivered his speech without significant interruptions.
“We’re excited and delighted for the Class of 2024 and their families. We understand the depth of feeling in our community, and as we have all year, we respect the right of everyone at Duke to express their views peacefully, without preventing graduates and their families from celebrating their achievement,” Duke spokesperson Frank Tramble said in a statement.
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