Harvard Professor Resigns from Pro-Palestine Groups After Anti-Semitic Post

TL/DR –

Walter Johnson, a professor of History and of African and African American Studies at Harvard, resigned as an adviser to the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) and from Harvard Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine (FSJP) following accusations of antisemitism towards these groups. These allegations were due to the groups sharing a post containing an antisemitic image, for which they later apologized and stated it did not align with their organizational values. The Harvard Interim President Alan M. Garber strongly condemned the antisemitic image and its perpetuation.

Harvard Professor Resigns Following Antisemitic Image Controversy

Walter Johnson, an esteemed Harvard professor with specialties in History and African and African American Studies, has stepped down as faculty adviser to the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee and Harvard Faculty for Justice in Palestine. The resignation follows an uproar over an antisemitic image shared by the groups.

Alison Frank Johnson, a fellow History professor and Johnson’s spouse, validated his decision Tuesday night. According to the PSC, the professor’s decision was personal, and discussions about his stepping down had been ongoing as his term was set to expire in the spring.

The PSC addressed the controversy by rewriting the caption of the updated post to reflect their commitment to Jewish liberation and apologized for the inclusion of an antisemitic trope. However, the FSJP has not yet commented on the situation.

Harvard’s Interim President Alan M. Garber ’76 strongly denounced the shared antisemitic image, calling for unity and empathy in his university-wide email.

Johnson, who was initially the top signatory in FSJP’s founding declaration, had his name removed from the website following the controversy over the antisemitic image.

The FSJP extended their apologies in a social media post, reiterating their stance against hate and bigotry, including antisemitism. Similarly, the PSC, in conjunction with the African and African American Resistance Organization, admitted the antisemitic image violated their internal standards and caused significant harm.

The groups concluded by expressing their regret over the publication of the offensive caricature, acknowledging it as an unprompted error due to ignorance and insufficient oversight.

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