Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
MEDFORD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Commencement exercises at Tufts University were particularly tense on Sunday as the celebratory occasion was briefly interrupted by graduating students chanting and protesting “Free Palestine” during the event.
The protests occurred early during the ceremony as the main line up of speakers for the event were prepared to take the stage. The protesting students wore Keffiyeh's and chanted pro-Palestinian slogans as they exited the ceremony and continued to protest to the backdrop of the ceremony’s Commencement speaker, International Relations expert Fiona Hill.
During her remarks, she spoke to the graduates about the need for kindness in difficult times.
“And you also have a very high kindness quotient here [at Tufts]. It’s tough out there and being kind is important. It will get you places that being mean will not,” Hill said.
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The Pro-Palestinian encampment was voluntarily dismantled by students earlier this month after warnings from the university. Tufts 2024 commencement exercises took place in the same location where the encampment stood just a few weeks ago.
WBZ NewsRadio's Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports
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