UC Berkeley holds student's diploma until Palestinian flag dropped
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- A UC Berkeley graduate was briefly denied his diploma jacket after carrying a Palestinian flag across the commencement stage.
- The incident sparked renewed debate over campus free speech and university ceremony rules.
University of California, Berkeley is facing mounting criticism after administrators temporarily withheld a graduate’s diploma jacket during a commencement ceremony when he walked on stage carrying a Palestinian flag.
The incident took place during the spring graduation ceremony at the Richard and Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy and quickly spread online after footage of the confrontation circulated across social media platforms.
Administrators halted the proceedings and stopped the student before he could complete the stage crossing.
“Sorry, but we’re not allowed to have flags,” an administrator told the audience over the microphone. “Flags are prohibited. It’s not our policy; it’s the university policy.”
The interruption lasted for nearly a minute and prompted mixed reactions from the crowd, including boos directed at administrators and applause for the student.
The graduate initially left the stage without receiving his diploma jacket. He later returned after handing over the flag, shook hands with faculty members, accepted the diploma cover, and exited the stage to cheers from attendees.
Following the ceremony, the Goldman School defended the decision, saying the intervention followed campus commencement guidelines designed to prevent disruptions during graduation events.
University officials said political banners, demonstrations, and displays that interrupt the ceremony’s flow are prohibited under campus policy.
Administrators argued the action was necessary to preserve equal recognition for all graduates participating in the event.
Student groups and free speech advocates criticized the university’s response, accusing administrators of overreacting to a peaceful political expression.
A campus coalition representative said commencement ceremonies should reflect students’ identities and beliefs, arguing that publicly reprimanding a graduate over a Palestinian flag undermined free expression on campus.
The confrontation at UC Berkeley comes amid increasing tensions at universities across the United States over protests linked to the war in Gaza.
Several academic institutions, including New York University, have faced similar disputes involving graduation demonstrations, disciplinary measures, and student activism connected to Palestine solidarity protests.
The incidents have intensified national debate over the limits of political expression during university events and the balance between institutional rules and free speech rights.
