Church Denies Authorizing Harvard Graduation Walkout Protest

TL/DR –

Leadership at the Harvard-Epworth Church expressed anger and dismay after their location was used for a large-scale pro-Palestine protest termed the “People’s Commencement,” following a walkout at Harvard’s graduation. The pastors stated they had not granted permission for it to be used for this purpose, believing they had rented it to a small student group to honor students barred from graduating. There is a disagreement between the church and Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine (HOOP) over whether the use of the venue for the protest was made clear when the reservation was made – the church says it wasn’t, while HOOP says it was.

Harvard-Epworth Church Displeased with Unauthorized Pro-Palestine Protest

Harvard-Epworth Church, which hosted the “People’s Commencement” following a pro-Palestine protest at Harvard’s graduation, stated they were upset by the protest, according to an email to their congregation. Pastors Mitch Hay and Barb Lemmel were unaware that Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine (HOOP) was hosting the protest. They believed they had rented the premises to a small student group honoring the 13 undergraduates blocked from graduating.

In their email, the Pastors wrote, “The protest in the sanctuary was not approved by Harvard-Epworth, and we are disappointed our site became a major student protest location. We were not present to provide leadership, as we are in Italy on vacation.”

At the alternative graduation event, HOOP organizer and Harvard Law School graduate Lea H. Kayali indicated that the church “offered” the venue. Lemmel contradicted this in a further statement, saying they weren’t informed of any impending demonstrations or HOOP’s involvement.

1,000 Walk Out of Harvard’s Commencement

Over 1,000 people walked out of Harvard’s Commencement as President Alan M. Garber ’76 began to confer degrees. Many then marched to Harvard-Epworth Church to honor the 13 students prevented from graduating due to their involvement in a recent demonstration in Harvard Yard.

Lemmel revealed the student who rented the space for the “People’s Commencement” had previously rented for a different Harvard group. The student later confirmed she did not rent for this group’s benefit. In response, HOOP stated that the student had clarified the space was for community members wishing to support the barred seniors and mourn the loss of Palestinian lives. HOOP maintained that the student did not suggest the reservation was on behalf of a previous organization.

Hay and Lemmel highlighted in their email that Harvard-Epworth often serves as a forum for controversial discussions, but the protest was not in keeping with their values. Despite this, HOOP praised the church staff as welcoming and supportive. HOOP has not yet responded to the church’s claims of unauthorized use and misleading actions by organizers.

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