“To the families in Gaza who have met a much much more violent loss of home and community… for us to witness your suffering from such a close vantage point in our final year of college puts everything we have learnt to the test.
We are graduating today, but there are no more universities left in Gaza.” – Nageen Rameez, Yale-NUS class valedictorian’s speech
Yale-NUS Students Stand in Solidarity with Palestine
43 graduates from Yale-NUS in Singapore participated in a brave display of solidarity during their convocation in May 2024.
The striking display of solidarity featured hand-braided wristbands that were red, green, black, and white in colour, keffiyehs over graduation gowns, and raised fists.
A 46-second Instagram real, which was viewed almost 150,000 times in just 8 hours, compiled these rare acts of solidarity from 43 graduates. At the time of writing, the reel was liked more than 6,200 times.
The reel was posted by @sgacadboycott , a Singaporean Campaign which calls for the academic boycott of Israel.
The symbolic acts of resistance amidst the celebratory atmosphere caught the attention of many, and the courageous students were praised.
Their actions serve as a testament to the power of individual agency and collective solidarity in effecting meaningful change.
The Valedictorian’s Speech
In a poignant speech which moved many to tears, Nageen Rameez, the class valedictorian from Yale-NUS addressed the situation in Gaza.
Nageen reminded people that, while her class of students graduate from university, there were no universities left in Gaza.
Referring to Yale-NUS closure the consequent lost of a “home and community”, Nageen observed that Palestinians have suffered a much more “violent” loss.
She also acknowledged fellow students who tirelessly raised funds for humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza.
She ended her speech by saying “Palestine, we see you, and we will continue showing up for you“.
This fine example of student activism brings to mind the final line of Macklemore’s latest single, dedicated to Palestine, Hind’s Hall:-
What you willin’ to risk? What you willin’ to give?What if you were in Gaza? What if those were your kids?If the West was pretendin’ that you didn’t existYou’d want the world to stand up and the students finally did, let’s get it (woo)
One Instagram user said that the students’ actions gave him “hope for the future“.
@sgviralvids “We are graduating today, but there are no more universities left in Gaza… Palestine, we see you, and we will continue showing up for you. Because that is what we do.” 43 brave students from Yale-NUS displayed solidarity with Palestine during their convocation. The class valedictorian also delivered a poignant speech about Gaza which moved many in the audience to tears. https://wakeup.sg/yale-nus-palestine-graduation/
You can follow, or be a part of, the growing student movement in Singapore by following their Instagram page!
The full video may be viewed at this link.
@sgviralvids Yale-NUS students in Singapore show solidarity with Palestine during their Graduation!
Rare acts of Student Resistance
The last such act of public protest by a student in Singapore was in July 2022, when Luke, a NUS student, protested the impending execution of Kalwant Singh and Norasharee Bin Gous.
He was investigated by the Police, but was eventually issued an advisory.
@sgviralvids Spotted at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore #singapore
More from Wake Up Singapore:-
Police reports filed after anti-Palestine vandalism repeatedly found in Ang Mo Kio HDB stairwell
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