Pro-Palestinian students file civil rights complaint against Harvard University over alleged harassment
A group of students at Harvard University has filed a civil rights complaint against the institution, claiming it failed to adequately protect them from harassment following their support for Palestinians during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The complaint was submitted to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights on Monday, January 29, by the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA). It demands an immediate investigation into Harvard’s alleged failure to safeguard the students from harassment, intimidation, threats, and more based solely on their Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and pro-Palestinian rights affiliations.
According to the complaint, the students have been subjected to widespread harassment and racist attacks, including doxxing, stalking, and assault, simply because of their Palestinian heritage, Muslim faith, and support for Palestinian rights. Shockingly, some students were even targeted for wearing keffiyehs, traditional Palestinian scarves.
The MLFA has claimed that Harvard University has been unresponsive to requests for assistance, instead responding with closed doors and threats to limit or revoke the academic opportunities of the affected students. The group represents students from various Harvard schools, including Harvard College, Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Divinity School, and Harvard Law School.
Expressing her experience, one Palestinian student stated, As a Palestinian student at Harvard, the racism and harassment I have faced is shocking, terrifying, and outrageous. We have been chased, spat at, stalked, and hounded by doxxing trucks on campus, and even at our families’ homes. On top of worrying about my family’s safety in Palestine, I’m living in fear of being attacked while walking to class. No student should have to live like this.
Christina Jump, the lead attorney for the students in the MLFA’s civil litigation department, emphasized their rights to a safe and conducive learning environment. Jump stated, We are proud to help these brave students find a voice and assert their rights to learn free and safe from harm, consistent with the First Amendment of our nation’s Constitution. They deserve that, just like any other student—let them learn, and learn in a safe space.
The MLFA referenced a November 7 letter from the US Department of Education for Civil Rights, expressing concerns about threats faced by Jewish, Muslim, Arab American, Palestinian American, and other communities at universities throughout the country. Now, the legal fund is urging the Office of Civil Rights to launch a swift investigation into Harvard’s alleged failure to protect its students and ensure the university’s accountability for the discrimination claimed by the students.
Furthermore, on January 3, Claudine Gay resigned as Harvard president amidst controversies related to her testimony on antisemitism in Congress and allegations of plagiarism. Her resignation came after several months of tension on campus, following a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis. In response, Israel initiated a series of bombings on the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of over 26,000 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, and more than 65,000 others injured.
This legal complaint against Harvard University highlights the need for universities to prioritize the safety and well-being of their students, regardless of their background or political beliefs. As the investigation unfolds, the MLFA aims to ensure that the rights of these pro-Palestinian students are protected and that Harvard’s alleged lack of support in the face of targeted harassment is addressed.
