Pro-Palestinian Students Walk Out as Sundar Pichai Takes the Stage at Stanford Commencement

Pro Palestinian student protests disrupted Stanford University’s 2026 commencement as Google chief executive Sundar Pichai delivered the keynote address at Stanford Stadium. As Pichai began speaking, dozens of graduating students stood up, waved Palestinian flags, chanted “Free Palestine,” blew whistles and then walked out of the ceremony in a coordinated demonstration targeting Google’s business ties with Israel and United States government agencies.

Organizers had urged classmates in advance to turn their backs and exit once Pichai took the podium, accusing Google of complicity in alleged human rights abuses through projects such as its cloud and artificial intelligence work for defense and security customers. Video from the event showed protesters leaving to sustained chants while a majority of graduates remained seated and the speech continued.

The walkout at Stanford adds to a wave of campus protests over the war in Gaza and technology contracts, with student groups increasingly using high profile events, including commencements, to press institutions and corporate leaders on their positions and partnerships.

Well over 100 Stanford students walked out of Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s commencement speech at Stanford just now, chanting “Free, free Palestine.” Google has a cloud contract with the Israeli government. Lots of boos and cries of “shame on you” as well pic.twitter.com/2dIqs1SBvi

— Erin Woo (@erinkwoo) June 14, 2026