[KARAH RUCKER]
THE UNREST AT COLLEGE CAMPUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY OVER THE WAR IN GAZA CONTINUED THIS WEEKEND – AS DOZENS OF STUDENTS WALKED OUT DURING DUKE’S COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY.
ROUGHLY 30 STUDENTS GOT UP FROM THEIR SEATS DURING SUNDAY’S CEREMONY — SOME WAVING PALESTINIAN FLAGS — AS COMEDIAN “JERRY SEINFELD” WAS AWARDED AN HONORARY DEGREE – AND WAS SET TO ADDRESS THE GRADUATING CLASS.
THE GROUP OF STUDENTS WALKING OUT COULD BE HEARD CHANTING “FREE PALESTINE.” THEY WERE MET BY A MIX OF BOOS AND CHEERS WITH OTHER GRADUATES CHANTING “JERRY” IN SUPPORT OF THE GUEST SPEAKER.
THE PROTESTING STUDENTS HELD AN ALTERNATE MAKESHIFT GRADUATION IN ANOTHER PART OF THE NORTH CAROLINA CAMPUS.
SEINFELD – who is jewish and HAS TWO CHILDREN ATTENDING DUKE – HAS BEEN OUTSPOKEN ABOUT HIS SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL SINCE HAMAS’ TERROR ATTACK IN OCTOBER.
IN HIS SPEECH – HE TOUCHED UPON THE CONCEPT OF PRIVILEGE WHILE TELLING STUDENTS NOT TO BE SHY ABOUT UTILIZING THE FACT THEY ATTENDED DUKE.
JERRY SEINFELD | ACTOR AND COMEDIAN
“Privilege is a word that has taken quite a beating lately. Privilege today seems to be the worst thing you can have. I would like to take a moment to defend it. Again, a lot of you are thinking, I can’t believe they invited this guy. Too late. I say, use your privilege. I grew up a Jewish boy from New York. That is a privilege, if you want to be a comedian.”
[KARAH RUCKER]
Seinfeld has not yet commented on the walkout.