Protesters Hoist Palestinian Flags at Harvard Yard: Brief Event
TL/DR –
At a Harvard Yard encampment, pro-Palestine student protesters raised three Palestinian flags over University Hall. The university’s administration took disciplinary action against the protesters, including the possibility that the degrees of graduating seniors could be withheld. The protesters held a vigil for Palestinians killed in the war and, in an act of defiance, chanted slogans against the administration, urging them to divest from Israeli apartheid and occupation.
Pro-Palestine Student Protesters Hoist Flags at Harvard University
On Saturday evening, pro-Palestine student protesters at the Harvard Yard encampment displayed three Palestinian flags from University Hall. The flags flew over the John Harvard statue, a spot usually reserved for American flag or flags of visiting dignitaries.
As Harvard University Police officers called for flag removal, protesters passionately chanted “Free, free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” A student protester tried to reclaim the flags, but was stopped by fellow demonstrators.
Harvard spokesperson, Jonathan L. Swain, noted in a statement that flag-raising was a policy violation, and those involved would face disciplinary action.
Following flag removal, protesters willing to share their Harvard University IDs gathered inside the encampment, chanting, “Harvard, Harvard take my ID. You can’t really scare me.” Protesters also held a vigil for Palestinians killed in the war.
Several administrators, including Dean of Students Thomas Dunne, arrived at the encampment to check IDs, warning of disciplinary action and potential degree withholding. College administrators have issued three warnings, indicating a move towards calling undergraduate protesters to the Harvard College Administrative Board.
After administrators left, protesters continued their demonstration, chanting slogans like “Admin, admin, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide” and “Every dollar Harvard supplies, a neighborhood in Gaza dies.”
The Palestinian flags were raised on empty flag posts since the American flag is only raised Monday through Friday. The first flag was raised at 6 p.m., followed by two more flags. No University administrators were present during the flag raising.
Organizers posted a photo of the first Palestinian flag flown from University Hall on Instagram, stating, “For well over 200 days, Harvard has ignored the ongoing genocide in Gaza. We will make Palestine unavoidable.”
During the vigil, attendees were urged to remember journalists killed in Palestine. Harvard Medical School instructor Lara Jirmanus expressed support for the protesters, stating, “They teach us how to hold power to account when our institutions and our democracy has failed to enact the will of the US and the global public: to ensure that Palestinians have the same access to life with dignity that all human beings deserve.”
Harvard University Police officers did not intervene during the protest. HUPD Chief Victor A. Clay defended protesters’ rights in a previous interview, expressing support for peaceful protest.
Past activist groups have also used the flagpole for their cause. In 2023, an anti-rape culture advocacy group raised a “Shame on Harvard” banner on two University Hall flagpoles. It is unclear whether the protesters will face disciplinary action for raising the banners.
—
Read More US News