Around 2 p.m., protesters began to set up signs and chairs around the space where the encampment's "alternative graduation" would take place. The event of about 80 people included speeches from suspended IU professor Abdulkader Sinno and Germanic studies professor Ben Robinson.
Robinson was arrested and temporarily banned from campus April 25. Robinson's ban is temporarily paused while his appeal is processed by the university.
A stage was set with two wooden planks next to each other. Behind it were signs reading “Free Palestine,” “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and other wooden planks with the Palestinian flag painted on them.
Encampment organizer Bryce Greene opened the ceremony with a speech and then led the crowd through various chants such as “When I say Pam you say bye,” calling for IU President Pamela Whitten's resignation or removal. The chant “we are unstoppable, another world is possible,” was also repeated among other chants before the ceremony began.
Bryce continued his speech describing the heat, rain and police response the encampment has faced.
“But they couldn’t keep us out, could they?” he said.
After the introduction, Sinno was next to speak. On his walk to the megaphone, the crowd began chanting his name.
He said he was amazed with the students in the encampment and all that they faced without fear.
“You are the teachers for generations to come,” he said.
Robinson spoke after Sinno about his belief that the world that the encampment is building is one where truth matters.
“You are teaching us all about the power of education, congratulations,” he concluded.
One graduate before the commencement said they wanted to graduate in Dunn Meadow as a sign of solidarity with Palestine. Another said they wouldn’t want to be at a ceremony where IU’s president and dean would be speaking of their accomplishments. Instead, they described the encampment as a greater accomplishment and therefore wouldn’t want to celebrate their graduation anywhere else.
During the ceremony, IU professor Barbara Dennis spoke about the power of education and the need for students to educate themselves about the world around them.
“We must all, in some way, hold ourselves accountable,” she said. “Your machine gun in life is education.”
Another graduate spoke about the need for their fellow protesters to use their education to organize.
“We have an obligation to educate, agitate and organize because we know another world is possible.” they said.
After the speeches, each graduate walked in a line up to the microphone to state their names. Before doing so they dipped their hands into one or two of the plastic bins with red, green or black paint. They then put their hands on a white tapestry to make a large Palestinian flag with their handprints.
Afterward, they marched to Sample Gates chanting. Upon their return, the graduates were also handed poppyseeds which holds as a sign of solidarity to Palestinians.
Protesters conversed and sat together eating food. IU’s hosted graduation will begin at 7:45 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium — the protesters have called for a walk out.
