More than a year ago, pro-Palestine protesters concluded a three week-long sit-in with an ominous message: “See you at Reunions.”
While the subsequent disruptions at that year’s Reunions and Commencement were far less dramatic than the ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment,’ they were, for Princeton, still substantial: blood-colored dye in the SPIA fountain, a loud walkout at a speech by University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83, and even an attempt to block the P-Rade.
At this year’s Reunions and Commencement, the University sought to get ahead of any potential demonstrations by exhaustively emphasizing its policies around protests and interruptions, including that those who disrupted an event could face arrest. This move came after several disruptions at speaker events during the semester that changed the way Princeton enforced one element of its free expression policies, and as elite universities broadly face unprecedented scrutiny from the federal government for their treatment of pro-Palestine protests.
However, there were only a few Pro-Palestine protest actions over the six days of year-end celebration, all of them sparsely attended. On Friday, about 20 people walked around carrying signs and chanting, prompting some retorts and some expressions of support from alumni, but no confrontations.
At Eisgruber’s annual Reunions address, approximately four protesters unfurled banners reading “Israel Bombs” and “USA Pay$” from the balcony level of Richardson Auditorium, prompting hisses from some in the audience. The “USA Pay$” banner was unfurled upside down, and Eisgruber did not appear to even acknowledge the protesters, who were quickly escorted outside by PSafe.
Bags were not permitted inside the event, which was only open to Reunions wristband holders. The event also began with a verbal warning that “Any individuals who disrupt this event will be asked to leave the room immediately. Failure to leave immediately will be considered a violation of University policies, subject to disciplinary action, as well as defiant trespass under New Jersey law, subject to arrest.” Other select Reunions events also featured similar warnings.
The warning inside the room followed an email to Reunions participants earlier that week with a similar message, saying that attendees to events would receive “one more warning beyond this note not to disrupt an event or prevent an invited guest from speaking.”
Three protesters at Eisgruber’s talk declined to speak to the ‘Prince’ when asked after the disruption.
Later that day, a small group of protesters wearing keffiyehs protested at the annual P-Rade, chanting and waving banners. They were frequently drowned out by the noise of the rest of the parade, including calls from an adjacent group for P-Rade walkers to chug a beer.
After Reunions concluded, Princeton’s three-day-long graduation began, including addresses by Jerome Powell ’75 during Baccalaureate and celebrity podcaster Jay Shetty during Class Day. The selection of Shetty previously faced pushback from some seniors over allegations that he misrepresented parts of his life story.
During Class Day, a protester wearing a keffiyeh and a Class of 2025 beer jacket began shouting and waving a Palestinian flag during brief remarks by Eisgruber. The unidentified woman had been sitting in the section for graduating seniors when she stood up and criticized the University, saying “Princeton has blood on its hands” and other similar phrases. University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill told The Daily Princetonian that she was not a student.
PSafe then led her off of Cannon Green, where Class Day is held, while she continued to shout. Officers then attempted to handcuff her on Elm Drive, away from the ceremony, as she shouted “Why are you not allowing me to leave?”. Morrill said she was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and defiant trespassing, and that the protester had been barred from campus.
The disruption was met by very little reaction from members of the audience; only a few people clapped as she was led away. She did not appear to be audible or visible in the University’s video livestream of the event.
Later that day, Princeton Israeli Apartheid Divest posted on Instagram, telling people to call PSafe’s number to extend their support for the protester.
At the final event of graduation, Commencement, a small group of seniors walked out as Eisgruber began to deliver his address, which focused on the state of higher education. This walkout did not interrupt the normal flow of the address or Commencement ceremony.
In addition to being much smaller-scale than the protests last year, this year’s spate of demonstrations did not appear to disrupt much. After the Class Day protester was led away, one member of the audience remarked, “Why couldn’t the protester have been during the Jay Shetty speech?”
Calvin Kenjiro Grover is a head Photo editor for the ‘Prince.’
Luke Grippo is a senior News writer and Features contributor for the ‘Prince.’ He is from South Jersey and usually covers University politics, on a national, regional, and local scale.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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