PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — A group of pro-Israel protesters waved Israeli and U.S. flags Saturday afternoon across the street from a Brown University graduation event, while anti-Israel protesters interrupted the event itself during the ceremony.
As undergrads entered the First Baptist Church in America for a multifaith ceremony that followed a procession from the College Green, protesters remained on the sidewalk beside the Rhode Island School of Design administration building across the street.
One of the pro-Israeli protesters, Howard Brown of the Rhode Island Coalition for Israel, said they were there at the request of a Brown alumni group for Israel.
Howard Brown said Brown University and other schools have “caved in to the demands of protesters” who he then characterized as “not protesters, they’re pro-Hamas, supporting murder, rape, kidnapping,” and more.
Brown said their aim is to provide a “peaceful, pro-Israel presence at the ceremonies – and pro-American.” He added they also plan to be back on Sunday.
Meanwhile, anti-Israel protesters directly disrupted the commencement address given by the university's president.
Shortly after Christina Paxson began, her speech was interrupted for several minutes by shouting as she told the graduates, “I would really like to give you your degrees.” She eventually resumed with some people continuing to shout.
A group called Brown Alumni for Palestine said in a news release Sunday that it led the disruption at the ceremony, where Paxson and the Brown Corporation were conferring diplomas to the graduating class.
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Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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