Pro-Palestine Students Raise Palestinian Flags in Harvard Yard
Updated Saturday, April 27, at 9:46 p.m.
Pro-Palestine student protesters at the Harvard Yard encampment displayed three Palestinian flags on Saturday evening, in a statement of solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
A group of three protesters hoisted the flags over the John Harvard statue in the Yard, an area where the University typically flies the American flag or flags of visiting foreign dignitaries. Harvard University Police (HUPD) officers were promptly dispatched to Harvard Yard Operations to request the flags’ removal.
While the flags were being taken down, protesters expressed their dissent, shouting “Shame!” and chanting “Free, free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Disciplinary Action and Student Response
During the flag removal process, a student protester on the steps of University Hall attempted to seize the flags, but was dissuaded by other protesters.
Harvard spokesperson Jonathan L. Swain confirmed that the flag-raising was a violation of University policy, and the individuals involved will face disciplinary action. The spokesperson stated, “Repeat violations of University and School policies will result in increasingly severe sanctions”, which may include withholding the degrees of graduating seniors.
As the facilities staffer took away the flags, protesters willing to disclose their Harvard University IDs and contact information congregated inside the encampment, with other individuals demonstrating their solidarity immediately outside the encampment ropes.
Outspoken chants from the crowd included, “Harvard, Harvard take my ID. You can’t really scare me”, as well as other expressions advocating for the freedom of Palestine.
Escalating Tensions and Potential Board Involvement
After the flags’ removal, student protesters held an emotional vigil to honor Palestinians who have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict. Dozens of protesters encircled the John Harvard statue in a quiet demonstration of support.
Immediately following the vigil, a team of seven administrators, including Dean of Students Thomas Dunne, Associate Dean of Students Lauren E. Brandt ’01, and Dean of Student Services Michael Burke, arrived from University Hall to inspect and record the IDs of students within the encampment. Each student received a written warning, indicating that further disciplinary action may be taken.
These warnings follow Thursday and Saturday emails from Dean Dunne, indicating the increasing likelihood of summoning undergraduate protesters to the Harvard College Administrative Board.
These disciplinary warnings have added significance as the protesters are just weeks away from Harvard’s commencement ceremonies, with some of the encampment participants being graduating seniors.
Administrators have continued to inspect the IDs of protesters on a daily basis since Thursday. However, it is worth noting that administrators overlooked the IDs of individuals outside the encampment, including multiple journalists from The Crimson.
As administrators were making their departure, protesters with megaphones and drums surrounded and followed them out of the Yard while continuing their chants, such as “Admin, admin, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide”.
Harvard’s Flag-Flying Procedures and Past Activism
It is important to clarify that the American flag was not being flown during the time the Palestinian flags were raised. Harvard University’s flag procedures dictate that the American flag is raised in front of University Hall on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The installation of the first Palestinian flag on the center University Hall flag post occurred at 6 p.m. Initially, the flag was upside down, but it was soon corrected with the right orientation. Subsequently, at 6:18 p.m., a second, smaller Palestinian flag was raised on an adjacent flag post, followed by a third flag at 6:23 p.m., completing the display of three Palestinian flags.
The moment each flag was raised, the protesters jubilated, chanting “Free, free Palestine”. Led by an organizer with a megaphone, the crowd also voiced slogans, such as “What do we want, justice! When do we want it, now!” and “If we don’t get it, shut it down”. Numerous protesters took photographs to commemorate the event.
This display of activism is not the first instance of a group using the flagpole at University Hall for advocacy purposes. In February 2023, protesters affiliated with Our Harvard Can Do Better, an anti-rape culture advocacy organization, raised a “Shame on Harvard” banner on two University Hall flagpoles. It remains to be seen whether disciplinary action will be taken against the current protesters for their flag-raising actions.
In a concerted effort to draw attention to Harvard’s complicity in the “genocide in Gaza”, organizers of the protest posted a photo on the Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine Instagram account at around 6:40 p.m. The caption read, “WE FLY FOR PALESTINE”. The post further elaborated on their demands for disclosure and divestment, and promised to continue their advocacy for Palestine.
The Teaching Power of Protest, Diverse Opinions, and Response
During the vigil, one of the protesters urged people to remember the names of journalists killed in Palestine while attending the White House Correspondents Dinner on the same evening. The aim was to remind attendees of the consequences of the continuous unrest in the region.
Addressing the encampment, Harvard Medical School instructor Lara Jirmanus expressed her deep concern, highlighting the urgency to discuss ways of disentangling Harvard’s association with the Israeli occupation. She voiced her support for the encampment, emphasizing the importance of the students’ effort in holding power accountable.
Although the flags’ presence was acknowledged by members of the Harvard community, securitas officers made no moves toward the demonstration, nor did they address the protesters. Additionally, HUPD officers declined to comment on the Harvard Yard incident and whether intervention would occur.
Harvard University Police Chief Victor A. Clay defended the students’ right to protest and ensured their safety in an interview with The Crimson. He reaffirmed their right to peaceful protest and stated that the HUPD would support their right to express their opinions.
Prior History of Activism and Subsequent Developments
Earlier in the week, encampment protesters had draped a keffiyeh and Palestinian flag over the John Harvard statue. On Friday, Dean Dunne removed the keffiyeh using a pole and requested the removal of the flag, but protesters demanded that Dunne physically remove the keffiyeh himself. Subsequent to Dunne’s departure, the protesters replaced the keffiyeh on the statue, where it remained as of Saturday evening.
The persistent activism from the protesters, along with the University’s response and potential subsequent actions by the Harvard College Administrative Board, have further heightened tensions and attracted extensive attention.
Harvard University, priding itself on a tradition of open dialogue and diverse perspectives, now confronts a campus in turmoil as it grapples with finding a resolution to the ongoing situation and addressing the demands articulated by protesters seeking justice for Palestine.
Sources:
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