Police broke up pro-Palestinian demonstrations last week that had disrupted campus life.

Though graduations have been relatively quiet in recent years, American college students have a strong tradition of protesting at commencement ceremonies. Beginning in 1970, UC Berkeley stopped holding school-wide commencement ceremonies for 20 years, amid Vietnam-era protests. In 1969, some students wore gas masks at graduation.

Columbia University is canceling its large university-wide commencement ceremony amid ongoing pro-Palestinian protests.

Palestinian protests continued Monday as Columbia University canceled its main commencement ceremony, Harvard threatened suspensions of demonstrators in an encampment and police arrested dozens of students on two California campuses.

On April 25, the University of Southern California cancelled its main commencement ceremony for students following campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war and the decision to cancel the speech of the Muslim valedictorian.

Columbia University has canceled its university-wide commencement, but will continue ahead with smaller celebrations.

Columbia’s president had earlier said that she did not want to deprive students of an in-person celebration after many graduated high school during the pandemic.

STORY: Following weeks of student protests that culminated in police storming campus and arresting activists...Columbia University in New York City announced on Monday it had canceled its university-wide commencement ceremony.

Columbia University canceled its main graduation ceremony after weeks of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. At the University of Michigan, protesters briefly interrupted the school’s commencement ceremony.