Masked Protesters Raise Palestinian Flags at Harvard University amid Controversy

Masked protesters from Harvard University made headlines after hoisting Palestinian flags at locations traditionally reserved for American and foreign country banners, including the iconic John Harvard Statue in Harvard Yard. The demonstrators erected several Palestinian flags on Saturday evening as part of their protest efforts against the institution’s involvement with Israeli organizations that they claim support “apartheid” policies towards Palestinians. In a video shared online, students were also seen draping a scarf around the statue’s neck while chanting slogans such as ‘Free, free Palestine’, and ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.’ While University authorities demanded that Harvard Yard Operations remove at least one flag around 6:34 pm EST on Saturday night due to violating campus policy, protesters responded by shouting their slogans. The removal of American flags from public areas has previously caused controversy; in September 2017, a group called ‘Harvard Students for Justice in Palestine’ replaced the flag flying above Harvard Yard with a Palestinian banner following the decision to expel several students who were protesting against Israel’s military actions. In response to this latest incident at Harvard University, officials warned that repeat violations of campus policies would result in increasingly severe sanctions and possible denial of degrees for offenders during graduation ceremonies. The protesters responded by declaring “Harvard, Harvard take my ID” as they handed over their student cards before being photographed and questioned further about the incident’s details.