Golden State Today

UC Berkeley graduates celebrated their commencement on Saturday amid protests against the war in Gaza. Despite persistent chanting from hundreds of protesting graduates, the ceremony proceeded as planned, with speakers offering advice and well-wishes to the Class of 2024.

Nearly 8,000 students received bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees under sunny skies. About 20,000 guests attended the event. The program was briefly halted when protesters' chants peaked but quickly resumed for keynote speaker Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall, a Berkeley alumna and CEO of the Dallas Mavericks.

As the ceremony began, scattered chants of “Free Palestine!” were heard from graduating students displaying Palestinian flags and signs spelling "DIVEST." This group eventually moved to an unoccupied bleacher section, filling it with over 500 chanters. The noise threatened to drown out Chancellor Carol Christ's address during her final graduation ceremony before stepping down in June.

Praising the resilience of the Class of 2024 through recent events and their virtual freshman year due to COVID-19, Christ urged graduates to reflect on their journey and carry forward their experiences from Berkeley into their futures.

Marshall shared her story of overcoming challenges to become Berkeley's first Black cheerleader and later a successful executive. She engaged graduates in a call-and-response exercise emphasizing personal responsibility: “Neighbor … the ball … is in … your hands.” Her message resonated despite ongoing protests which subsided as she concluded her speech.

The protests did not dampen spirits as graduates reunited with families for photos and celebrations afterward. There were no arrests at the event. Dominic Cedillo, an ethnic studies and political science major, commented on the balance between celebration and protest: “It’s their ceremony as much as ours.”

Before commencement began, students gathered for refreshments and photos at Witter Field adjacent to the stadium. Among them was J.P. Piña wearing a blue-and-orange-feathered headdress celebrating her achievements despite numerous barriers.

Many students expressed relief that Berkeley's graduation proceeded amidst other universities canceling ceremonies due to anti-war protests. Zaina Shaik of Irvine noted her excitement about attending college graduation after missing high school ceremonies due to COVID-19.

Reflecting on their time at Berkeley marked by pandemic disruptions but ultimately rewarding experiences, several graduates shared sentiments about perseverance and community support being key elements of their journey.

As graduates left Memorial Stadium for various celebrations or future plans, they carried appreciation for their formative years at UC Berkeley into new chapters ahead.

“I’m glad to be done,” said history major Nix Bukus. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity.”