Pro-Israel demonstrators demonstrate near Brown University commencement ceremony

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — A group of pro-Israel protesters waved Israeli and American flags Saturday afternoon in front of a Brown University graduation ceremony, while anti-Israel protesters disrupted the event itself for ceremony.

As undergraduates entered the First Baptist Church in America for a multifaith ceremony that followed a procession from College Green, protesters remained on the sidewalk next to the Rhode Island School of Design administration building, l 'other side of the street.

One of the pro-Israel protesters, Howard Brown of the Rhode Island Coalition for Israel, said they were there at the request of a group of Brown for Israel alumni.

Howard Brown said Brown University and other schools have “given in to the demands of protesters” who he then called “non-protesters, they are pro-Hamas, supporting murder, rape, kidnapping.” , and more.

Brown said their goal was to ensure a “peaceful, pro-Israeli presence at the ceremonies – and pro-American.” He added that they also plan to return on Sunday.

Meanwhile, anti-Israel protesters directly disrupted the university president's commencement speech.

Shortly after Christina Paxson began, her speech was interrupted for several minutes by a scream as she told the graduates, “I'd really like to give you your diplomas.” It eventually started again, with some people continuing to scream.

A group called Brown Alumni for Palestine said in a news release Sunday that it was behind the disruption of the ceremony, in which Paxson and the Brown Corporation were awarding diplomas to graduates.

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Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.