Harvard University has become the latest institution to contend with a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on campus. Sky5 was overhead when a protest march on the university's historic campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, suddenly became a rush to establish an encampment. Members of the group rushed inward onto a triangular piece of grass and began a scramble to assemble tents.No officials were seen attempting to interfere with the effort. The group, Harvard for Palestine, had advertised its intention to hold a rally at noon in front of Massachusetts Hall, a three-century-old dorm on Harvard Yard. Like other groups demonstrating on campuses around the country, they are demanding Harvard divest from companies that supply Israel in connection with that nation's monthslong conflict with Hamas. Harvard for Palestine was suspended by the university and the group was ordered to cease all activities earlier this week, The Harvard Crimson reported. The university also restricted access to Harvard Yard."We are closely monitoring the situation and are prioritizing the safety and security of the campus community," a spokesperson for Harvard University said. "The right to protest and peaceably assemble is foundational to American life, but the critical word in this context is peaceable," Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss said. "What concerns me is what I'm hearing from protesters across universities."Police in New York City arrested more than 100 protesters last week amid a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Columbia University, and that institution is continuing to negotiate to clear the encampment. Standoffs persist at other universities across the country, including California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, where protesters this week used furniture, tents, chains and zip ties to block a building’s entrance and barricade themselves inside.Encampments have also popped up at Emerson College, Tufts University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In response to the unrest, Brandeis University announced it would extend its deadline for students to apply for transfers. Former Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned in January in part because of intense criticism over Harvard's response to Hamas' Oct. 7 attack in Israel. At a Congressional hearing on Dec. 5, she and the leaders of other universities struggled to answer a question about whether calls for genocide against Jews would violate Harvard’s code of conduct.Gay later apologized for the poor wording in her testimony, as did University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill, who also resigned.Gay was the first person of color and the first Black woman to serve as president of America’s oldest institution of higher learning but her tenure was the shortest presidency in the history of Harvard. Numerous pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protests have unfolded on the campus, sometimes simultaneously, since October.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. —
Harvard University has become the latest institution to contend with a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on campus.
Sky5 was overhead when a protest march on the university's historic campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, suddenly became a rush to establish an encampment. Members of the group rushed inward onto a triangular piece of grass and began a scramble to assemble tents.
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No officials were seen attempting to interfere with the effort.
The group, Harvard for Palestine, had advertised its intention to hold a rally at noon in front of Massachusetts Hall, a three-century-old dorm on Harvard Yard. Like other groups demonstrating on campuses around the country, they are demanding Harvard divest from companies that supply Israel in connection with that nation's monthslong conflict with Hamas.
Harvard for Palestine was suspended by the university and the group was ordered to cease all activities earlier this week, The Harvard Crimson reported. The university also restricted access to Harvard Yard.
"We are closely monitoring the situation and are prioritizing the safety and security of the campus community," a spokesperson for Harvard University said.
"The right to protest and peaceably assemble is foundational to American life, but the critical word in this context is peaceable," Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss said. "What concerns me is what I'm hearing from protesters across universities."
Police in New York City arrested more than 100 protesters last week amid a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Columbia University, and that institution is continuing to negotiate to clear the encampment.
Standoffs persist at other universities across the country, including California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, where protesters this week used furniture, tents, chains and zip ties to block a building’s entrance and barricade themselves inside.
Encampments have also popped up at Emerson College, Tufts University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Emerson College students continue to protest Israel-Hamas war in public alley
In response to the unrest, Brandeis University announced it would extend its deadline for students to apply for transfers.
Brandeis University extends transfer deadline, citing harassment of Jews on other campuses
Former Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned in January in part because of intense criticism over Harvard's response to Hamas' Oct. 7 attack in Israel. At a Congressional hearing on Dec. 5, she and the leaders of other universities struggled to answer a question about whether calls for genocide against Jews would violate Harvard’s code of conduct.
Gay later apologized for the poor wording in her testimony, as did University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill, who also resigned.
Gay was the first person of color and the first Black woman to serve as president of America’s oldest institution of higher learning but her tenure was the shortest presidency in the history of Harvard.
Numerous pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protests have unfolded on the campus, sometimes simultaneously, since October.
