You preparing for pomp and circumstance and protests. Uc berkeleys main Commencement Ceremony hours away. High emotions for graduates amid ongoing campus demonstrations. I think there is a little bit of a shadow for sure, but definitely very grateful that we still have the graduation. Propalestinian protests on College Campuses across the country have prompted officials to change or cancel graduations. Good evening. Im greg lee and im Cristina Rendon at uc berkeley. A different story thousands of students will cross the stage and receive their degrees tomorrow. This is campus. Encampments grow ktvu. Bailey ocarroll is live on campus tonight with more on how members of this class are feeling ahead of tomorrows festivities. Bailey greg and christina. Yeah this will be the First Official graduation for many in this class. Their High School Graduations canceled because of the covid 19 pandemic. And then there was fear that this one would also be canceled because of protest tied to the israelhamas war. Uc berkeley, though, saying that it will be business as usual ahead of that Commencement Ceremony, students saying they are breathing a sigh of relief. 75 and sunny the friday before graduation at uc berkeley. And this is the scene you can feel the relief and excitement. And for seniors, its been a long time coming. College age. It was so special. I feel Like High School and it kind of abruptly and there are a lot of things that we missed out on. I think college was such a special experience. Angelina lee is graduating with her degree in Computer Science and statistics. Her High School Graduation was canceled because of the pandemic. Many other seniors shared a similar story. I didnt get the opportunity to say a lot of goodbyes. I didnt get that opportunity, like back when i played sports, i didnt get to give that senior speech. I didnt get to give a lot of things. It kind of feels like its coming full circle again. Reese murphy, a senior from tracy, said. Even when they got to berkeley, the fall of their freshman year, things were much different than what you see today. We still had the option to live in the dorms, but they were really empty and still not a lot going on. And now, less than 24 hours before they walk across the stage and get that coveted berkeley diploma, we asked if they felt another shadow was being cast ahead of another graduation because of protests on College Campuses tied to the israelhamas war. I know the media might be talking about these protests happening, and its disrupting life, but thats one part of it. Life goes on. Normally and like we try to accommodate the protesters and listen to them, and that definitely happens. In a statement, uc berkeley spokesperson dan mogulof said berkeley graduation ceremonies have been venues for all sorts of protests for many years. This year, like every year in the past, our efforts will focus on ensuring the ceremony can be successful, held and on supporting the ability of graduating students, their friends and families to safely enjoy and take part in an incredibly meaningful day. Students like murphy said they werent too concerned that protests would ruin graduation. Rather, every student we spoke to said protesters deserved to have their voices heard. I mean, if something happens at graduation, i dont believe it would be violent. I think it would be. I would it would happen in a manner that is perfectly appropriate. If someone feels strongly enough to express that during their graduation, then it should be heard. And we are live outside, or rather at sproul plaza on uc berkeleys campus. You can take a look there. That protest, largely peaceful, though there are still a pretty big number of tents out here tonight, and we havent seen too many people out there. But we do know that there are some people in those tents, and the Law School Commencement was earlier today here at uc berkeley. There was reports of multiple disruptions there. Audience members and propalestinian supporters there breaking out into chants at multiple times during that ceremony. The big Commencement Ceremony tomorrow, that is, at 10 30 a. M. At cals memorial stadium. Christina, back to you. Yeah, im sure people looking forward to that as well. Bailey reporting live in berkeley. Bailey. Thank you. Uc berkeley also announced today it is canceling a Us Senate Race debate due to safety concerns amid current campus protests. The debate between representative adam schiff and his gop rival, steve garvey, was supposed to happen at some point next fall, hosted by the Schools Institute of governmental studies, but the school determined they did not have the capacity to, quote, ensure a safe and civil event. This comes after weeks of unrest at the campus where propalestine encampment has taken over sproul plaza. Ongoing protests at Pomona College in Los Angeles County prompted School Leaders to make a last minute decision to postpone and relocate todays graduation ceremony. An encampment on the schools graduation stage has been growing all week. Today, School Officials announced that the main commencement will be held off campus now and will happen this sunday. The ceremony will not be open to the public, and the University Says additional Safety Measures will be taken. The propalestinian protesters are calling for total divestment from israel and say they will not move until their demands are met. Nationwide more arrests today at College Campuses amid propalestinian protests today at the university of pennsylvania, police encircled an encampment of demonstrators after warning people to leave. Officers in riot gear arrested more than two dozen people, including students and teachers, charging them with trespassing. A similar scene played out at the Massachusetts Institute of technology. Nearly a dozen students were arrested there. They had hundreds of riot gear, officers state troopers, all to come down for a student encampment that was peaceful throughout its time here. This comes just a day after a tense standoff at the university of arizona. Police used tear gas to clear an encampment before the schools Commencement Ceremony. Students have called for a ceasefire in gaza and want their schools to divest from israel, or companies connected to the country. President biden left the bay area this afternoon after a quick stop to fundraise for his reelection campaign. It included two events in the Silicon Valley. As ktvu crystal bailey reports, the president met by wealthy donors and some protesters. President bidens first stop in Silicon Valley to court his donors, a tech billionaire Vinod Khoslas home in portola valley. Biden supporters coming out to watch the motorcade while propalestinian protesters lined the streets. We want him to be funding other things like schools and health care and just building our communities, but not a genocide. The president then made his way over to palo alto, where former yahoo Ceo Marissa Mayer hosted another fundraiser. Some excited to see the president here in their neighborhood. Neighbors saying nearby schools were let out early for the event. I hope he lasts another four years and does a good job, as he has been doing the last few years. Id love to cheer our president on if i could. Theyre reminded of the last time a president ial candidate made their way here. The first time it was president obama also going to Marissa Mayers house. And it was we were able to get down another block to see him arrive. And i saw the motorcade. Not sure i ever saw him, though. Shortly after the motorcade came through middlefield road, a set of protests erupted as police blocked the area wearing riot gear. Propalestinians making demands to end the war in gaza. Hes writing a blank check to the government of israel that is slaughtering children. And a proisrael Group Setting up shop across the street. I came to show my support to biden and his support to the most of his support to israel, because israel is in a dangerous situation, protests remain peaceful, and President Biden left the bay area in the afternoon to head to seattle, where his Fundraising Efforts continue. The president has raised a Record Number of funds with more than 180 million going towards his reelection campaign. A lot of those donors coming from right here in california, in palo alto, crystal bailey, ktvu, fox two news. Coming up tonight at 1030. The United Nations approving a resolution today granting Palestine New rights. This as the fighting in rafah continues. And to stay on top of the war in gaza as well as the reaction here in the bay area and across the country, head to our website, ktvu. Com. New at ten a church and home catching fire tonight in oakland. This happened just before 7 30 p. M. At 27th and west streets. You can see heavy smoke there billowing from the structures. This fire first started at a Single Family residence. It then spread to a nearby church. The Oakland Fire Department says no one was hurt. The pastor, though, was inside the church when the fire started and he was able to make it out okay. Crews did an outstanding job of keeping the fire to this building and half of the church. It really could have gotten a whole city block going had they not reacted so quickly. There was a partial collapse at the home and the church has severe damage. The back of the building, the Fire Department still on scene this hour, mopping up hot, hot spots. An abrupt ending to the school year for students at a private school in newark, the school announced today. It has filed for bankruptcy and will be shutting down immediately. Despite already collecting tuition for next year. Ktvu is alice wertz joins us live from newark. Alex. Alice a lot of shock for parents and students tonight. Thats right. Greg. Were here in front of new horizon school. Its designed its a private school. Its for junior kindergarten through eighth grade. The semester was supposed to go another three weeks, but that came to an abrupt end with an email that was sent to staff, families, instructors and students. We were all shocked. You know, both of my kids were crying. All the parents, everybody was crying and really upset about this. Parent sheena verma has two students here at new horizons. She said it was an email sent wednesday night from the principal. Thats how she learned that the school is bankrupt and friday would be its last day. We were shocked about two months ago, we abruptly found out that some teachers were not being paid, we found out that like the lease had not been paid, the principal, Victor Dawson, hasnt been on site since march 27th and none of the bills have been paid, including payroll. But hes collected tuition for next year. About 20 parents prepaid about 14,000 each. Angela eggleston has been involved with new horizons since the 90s. It has been a very long semester as vice principal. Shes tried to keep spirits up, but its been very challenging when information was brought to light about building lease not being current, about this staff not being paid, we did lose some students. Yeah we probably lost about 20, 22 students. So we were probably right now we were down to like 78. Hadi rafi has taught math and science to middle schoolers here for the last year. So february, march, april, may. So itll be a total of almost eight eight checks. He hasnt been paid in four months, but like some other teachers, he keeps showing up. Were supposed to get paid today, basically all of checks. But i checked my account. Nothings there. Miss angie says the students are struggling. Our students are resilient, but that doesnt mean they arent hurting, i hear from parents that theyre having anxiety. Theyre theyre crying at night. They dont understand because its just so different than what they had experienced. Their full time here. Were a small community. And the, mr. Dawson, Victor Dawson is the owner and principal. We tried to reach out to him but didnt hear back. As for the staff and the teachers, there is a complaint filed with the department of labor in regards to the wages that havent been paid. Some families are trying to figure out still where their students are going to go in the fall. Im in newark. Alice schwartz, back to you at the desk. Greg. Yeah, real surprising end to the year there, alice. Thank you. Police in brentwood are looking for a missing 15 year old girl. Demari powell was last seen wednesday when she was dropped off at heritage high school. But police say she never went to class. They believe she may be in the San Francisco area. Demari is five feet, two inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. She has a scar on her forehead and two tattoos, one on her right arm, another on her right hand. Anyone with information is asked to call brentwood police. Still to come, a unique bookstore in San Francisco celebrates the Asian American experience. Were speaking with owners as we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage month. And in weather, another warm day out there. 70s, 80s and 90s. But a bit of a cooling trend. As we head into one part of your weekend, well have the update coming up and a rare severe solar storm filling the skies with the Northern Lights when you might have the coverage continues tonight with the story out of San Francisco. Theres a one of a kind gift shop and bookstore in the citys chinatown that celebrates the Asian American experience. The owners are two chinese american sisters who say they wanted a place for the community to gather. Thats where we find ktvu is amber lee. She actually joins us live from the newsroom after visiting their shop and speaking with them about their love for chinatown and giving back amber. Christina. The two sisters told me they wanted to create a business that would help to revitalize chinatown. At the same time, they wanted to do something to help promote unity. We consider it an Asian American centered gift shop bookstore located in the heart of San Francisco. Chinatown on waverly, a unique gift shop and bookstore, sells mostly asian made goods. It opened just last december. Thank you so much for coming by. And, you know, checking us out on this night, the stores owners are hosting a special event featuring creators of products focusing on the cantonese dialect. Oh, yeah, that ones really jennifer and cynthia. Huey grew up in fremont. They say their shop attracts customers from different parts of the city, across the bay area and beyond. We love having conversations here with the customers too. And, being able to talk about, you know, share stories about our own families. The sisters want a store that tells the stories of the Asian American experience. I dont think that, growing up, ive seen many bookstores that and gift stores that, i personally could relate to. They wanted to open in chinatown, in a place they visited often with their families, while growing up. Whats unique about us is that i think were here really to create connections. So its not just to, you know, promote the latest book. What cynthia huey is promoting are Community Oriented solutions to antiasian sentiment. She cocreated what she calls the unity road trip with the help of an African American community leader. Last summer, they took five chinese american and five African AmericanHigh School Students on a trip to different parts of the country. How do we bring two groups of people together so that they can build real friendships and learn about their own histories . Last year, we started combining the stops included a mosque in chicago, a visit to new york to see the Harriet Tubman statue, and chicago to meet with a female neuroscientist. A way to encourage girls from underserved families to consider careers in traditionally male dominated industries. A precursor to the road trip was a visit to the bay view neighborhood in San Francisco. We want them to have an experience where they can meet Like Community leaders, Community Activists and meet congress people, people who are really making a difference, cynthia huey tells me her passion for the unity road trip shares the same goal as her Business Building bridges and embracing cultural differences. The summer huey plans to expand the program to host a total of 12 girls instead of ten. The program is funded with a state grant. Christina. Yeah, what a great story. I love that for them, and glad that theyre expanding it to even more girls. As well in the future.