University of Michigan grad says early anti-Israel disruption was ‘my biggest fear’ in months

Anti-Israel protesters spoiled what should have been a festive event Saturday at a commencement ceremony at the University of Michigan, shouting anti-Semitic chants and attempting to disrupt speakers, a graduate said.

The event at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor turned chaotic when a group of about 50 protesters waving Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Semitic slogans marched toward the stage as U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro spoke and addressed the newly appointed officers.

They were greeted with a chorus of boos from the thousands in attendance.

In addition, planes flew over the country displaying pro-Palestinian slogans and some demonstrators wore keffiyehs, clothing that has become a symbol of Palestinian solidarity, said Benny Shaevsky, who graduated Saturday from the university’s Ross School of Business. Law enforcement confronted the protesters and pushed them toward the back where they remained for the rest of the event, he told Fox News Digital.

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“They were screaming all the time. I couldn’t hear anything,” Shaevsky said. “I had to be moved to another seat because I missed half the keynote speakers because of it.”

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Shaevsky, who shouted at the protesters to leave, said he did not see any of them being arrested. On its website, the school announced restrictions that include “banning banners, flags and anything that obstructs sight lines.”

Fox News Digital has contacted the university.

Like other universities, Michigan has faced anti-Israel protests on its campus, amid clashes between protesters and authorities as well as vandalism.

“I’m really disturbed. These people have been wreaking havoc on my campus for what seems like a few months, but particularly over the last two weeks with their massive encampment,” Shaevsky said. “I see these people in the camp. They are not students.”

Graduating from Michigan has been a lifelong goal for Shaevsky, who said he loves the school’s legendary football team, the defending national champions.

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“That was my biggest fear the last few months. I’ve wanted to graduate from Michigan my whole life and to see that be disrupted in the way that I feared was emotional,” he said.

Saturday’s protest came amid a crackdown on similar demonstrations at universities across the country, including the University of Michigan. The university said it respected free speech, but that school administrators would take steps to “defuse and remedy” disruptions to the commencement ceremony.

That did not happen Saturday, Shaevsky said, while calling on officials to take a tougher stance against chaotic and destructive behavior on campus.

UNC FRATERNITY BROTHERS DEFEND REINSTITUTED AMERICAN FLAG FROM CAMPUS MOB WHICH WAS REPLACED BY PALESTINIAN FLAG

“I believe in the freedom of speech of these people, even though I totally disagree with what they say, but there is a time, a place and a way to do it,” he said . “Today it would have taken place outside the stadium, in designated protest areas. These people did not follow that.”

Original article source: University of Michigan grad says early anti-Israel disruption was ‘my biggest fear’ in months