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Another protest. Another forcible ejection by the authorities. Yet another opportunity for outsiders to exclaim “only in Berkeley” (perhaps condescendingly, perhaps not). Another odd amalgamation of anger, hope and happiness. 

Another convocation. 

Another class graduated at UC Berkeley. 

Security was tight at yesterday’s Class of 2000 Commencement Convocation anticipating protests of the keynote speaker, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Hordes of three-piece-suited Secret Service agents saturated the Greek Theatre crowd of roughly 5,000, joined by white-uniformed federal officers, UC police, security guards, a bomb-sniffing dog and various other authority figures. 

They needed them all. 

While the protests were nonviolent, they were loud, frequent and incredibly disruptive. In addition to the noisy protests in front of the theatre, 59 demonstrators were ejected from within the proceedings with no reported arrests. 

The many protesters – demonstrating against U.S. actions in the Balkans, Colombia and most especially the ongoing embargo of Iraq – immediately unfurled banners the instant Albright was introduced, chanting slogans and continually interrupting her speech with cries of “murderer” and “genocide.” A small propeller plane towing a banner reading “1.7 Mil(lion) Iraqis Dead – End Sanctions Now!” even flew over the theater. 

“I’m so glad to be at Berkeley,” exclaimed Albright while waiting for a particularly noisy protester to be shown out of the theater. “The United States is not perfect. Like other nations, we have had shameful periods and practices in the past. But I believe deeply in the fundamental goodness of our country, the immense value of our leadership in democracy, justice and peace. That, in a nutshell, is my story.” 

Albright, cheered by the vast majority of the crowd, received her loudest ovation when speaking of the advancement of women in politics and the world. 

“I’m often asked what it’s like to be a female in this job, and most people who ask expect me to say it makes no difference,” said Albright. “But after 63 male Secretaries of State, I was determined to make a difference. I’m proud of successes in the efforts to advance women in mainstream foreign politics.” 

Albright also received applause when she mentioned her attempts to curb abusive practices against women worldwide, and exited the stage to a standing ovation. Scheduled to appear last as keynote speaker, Albright actually spoke first and left the stage immediately following her speech. 

The change of plans was a surprise for the crowd, and even crossed up the speakers. University Medalist Fadia Rafeedie – a Palestinian-American and Arab activist – had hoped to bring up the Iraqi embargo with Albright, but found her intended audience had long since left the building amidst a sea of Secret Service agents. Rafeedie scrapped her planned speech and instead opted to “speak from the heart.” 

“I want to talk for a lot of my comrades out there who (were ejected),” said the history major. “I want to give them a voice. There are about 5,000 people here today. About that may Iraqis will die before we graduate. Commencement means beginning. Where civilization itself began, it’s now being destroyed. 

“I think the protesters didn’t embarrass the University, I think they dignified it,” continued Rafeedie. “Secretary Albright did not mention Iraq. Failing to mention things is like actually lying about them. The cancer rate in Iraq has risen over 70 percent since the Gulf War. The children dying of malicious diseases weren’t even born when the Gulf War happened. You gave a standing ovation to a woman who stands for everything I’m against.” 

Between the bedlam surrounding Albright’s appearance and Rafeedie’s heartfelt words, Professor Robert Berring and former Congressman Jerome Waldie served much the same role as the drunken doorman in “Macbeth” – much-needed comic relief. 

“You’ve actually lost something here at UC Berkeley. You’ve lost the right to ever say you don’t have a shot. That you don’t have a chance,” said Berring, a law professor at Boalt Hall. “Perhaps you’ve had something else taken away from you too – maybe a lot of things. Maybe a laptop! Maybe a calculator! Maybe a bicycle! I don’t understand bicycles; I’ve lost three now, where do they go? I wish you could just make a deal with the thieves to make a monthly payment from your MasterCard and keep your stuff!” 

Waldie, a member of the Cal class of 1950, represented Contra Costa County in the U.S. Congress from 1966 to 1974. He recalled his own commencement 50 years ago – and the cold beer he slipped in under his graduation robe. He also recalled seeing Richard Nixon politicking near campus in the late 1940s. 

“Some people were wearing gags to protest a law Nixon had proposed to limit free speech,” said Waldie. “I was not much impressed with Mr. Nixon that day, and I guess you could say my feelings reached their peak a quarter-century later, when as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I voted to impeach the president.”