Cambridge, Massachusetts – Pro-Palestine student protesters raised three Palestinian flags at Harvard Yard this past Saturday evening, igniting a demonstration for their cause. The flags, flown over University Hall, were met with a swift response from Harvard University Police officers who worked to remove them around 7:30 p.m.
The protest, led by a group of three demonstrators, saw chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” as the flags were taken down. University facilities staff, accompanied by HUPD officers, faced resistance from protesters, but ultimately removed the flags amid the outcry.
Harvard spokesperson Jonathan L. Swain addressed the incident, denouncing the flag-raising as a violation of university policy and promising disciplinary action against those involved. Despite the removal of the flags, protesters gathered inside the encampment, some willing to have their Harvard University IDs documented, while others stood in solidarity outside the designated area.
The demonstration drew attention to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with organizers expressing their determination to continue pushing for divestment from Israeli apartheid and occupation at Harvard. This act of protest follows previous efforts by activists to raise awareness of various causes using the University Hall flagpole.
Chief Victor A. Clay of the Harvard University Police Department defended the rights of the protesters to demonstrate peacefully, emphasizing the importance of supporting student activism on campus. Similar actions have taken place in the past, with activist groups utilizing the flagpole as a platform to amplify their messages.
The protest marks another instance of student activism at Harvard, adding to the ongoing dialogue surrounding social and political issues on campus. As tensions persist, it remains to be seen how the university will navigate its response to such displays of protest and advocacy in the future.