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Pro-Palestinian student activists defy Harvard University warnings

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Anti-Israel activist groups defied Harvard University’s warnings that their protest camp would have to be broken up under threat of suspension, describing the campus occupation movement as a “student intifada” in a news conference on Monday.

Harvard’s press statement out of Occupied Palestine said: “The Student Intifada will remain at Harvard.” It was a response to both the government’s statement about the 13-day camp and a deadline for the protest coalition within which the government must negotiate the implementation of their demands.

“The student intifada has swept across the entire country,” said a camp spokeswoman. “It changes the conversation and expands the scope of possibilities. If these universities only care about their assets, the student movement will become a liability. “

As dozens of campuses across the country continue to face occupations and aggressive protests by activists seeking to force the adoption of anti-Israel policies since Columbia University’s original tent agreement on April 17, the HOOP spokesman warned that if administrators did not submit, “Campuses are becoming ungovernable.”

The student activists warned that the administration would impose costs on the university if it did not comply with their demands. She said her movement had faced intimidation and abuse and that the government had left her few options in pursuing her goals.

Anti-Israel demonstration at Harvard University. Time for the local Jewish community and Jewish Harvard alumni to show our strength (Source: Rick Friedman/Polaris – Newscom)

“Make no mistake, whatever happens next will be the result of the decisions Harvard has made,” the spokeswoman said.

The current Harvard president addresses the problem

Harvard University Interim President Alan Garber said Monday that while the institution respects freedom of expression and protest, “it is not unlimited” and called for an end to the camp.

“The camp privileges the voices of a few over the rights of many who have experienced disruptions in the way they learn and work during a critical time of the semester,” Garber said. “We continue to hear reports from students whose ability to sleep, study and move freely around campus has been impacted by the protesters’ actions.”

Garber said there are increasing reports of harassment of other students. Harvard employees were surrounded and shouted down when they tried to enforce ID policies, and passers-by were “confronted, monitored and stalked.”

The encampment had expanded to the lawn for the commencement ceremony’s opening remarks on Saturday, and Garber warned that the impact of the protests would become more severe as the event approached. He said it was unfair that students couldn’t celebrate their graduation.

“The continuation of the camp poses a significant risk to the university’s educational environment,” Garber said. “Those who participate in or continue the continuation will be placed on involuntary leave of absence from their schools. Among other things, students who are placed on involuntary leave of absence may not be able to take exams, may no longer live in Harvard housing, and may no longer be allowed on campus until they are reintegrated.”

The Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee, which was suspended from campus on April 22, said on Instagram on Monday that hundreds were facing suspension.

Anti-Israel groups increased the urgent tone of their demands as the IDF took military action against the Hamas stronghold of Rafah.



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