Graduation at US' Duke University marred by protest against speech by Jewish-American comedian

By Hakan Copur

WASHINGTON (AA) – A group of students against Israel’s war on Gaza protested as Jewish-American comedian Jerry Seinfeld was about to give a speech Sunday at North Carolina-based Duke University’s gradation ceremony by unfurling a Palestinian flag and walking out.

The demonstration in support of Palestine and Gaza at Duke University was the latest against the war on university campuses.

Seinfeld, who supports Israel, had been invited to speak at the ceremony.

The students, waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Freedom for Palestine," left the ceremony area with other students joining them.

Images from Duke University quickly spread on social media, with many users dissatisfied with Seinfeld's invitation to speak at the university.

More than 2,500 people have been detained so far in protests in which police intervened at the request of the administrations at many universities in the US.

Students at universities around the world are gathering on their campuses in demonstrations against Israel’s attacks on Gaza, which started last month at New York's Columbia University.

*Writing by Gizem Nisa Cebi in Istanbul