Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) has announced his decision to withdraw from a fellowship program at Harvard University due to the presence of what he calls antisemitism on campus. Hogan made this announcement in a letter addressed to Harvard University President Claudine Gay, which he posted on social media.
Hogan expressed his honor in accepting fellowships from the Kennedy School of Politics and the Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University. However, he decided to withdraw from the program after more than 30 student organizations issued a letter attempting to justify and celebrate Hamas’ terrorism.
In his letter, Hogan stated that he could not condone the dangerous antisemitism on campus, particularly the student organizations’ support for Hamas’ terrorism against innocent Israeli and American civilians. He emphasized that there were no both sides when it came to the murder, rape, and kidnapping of innocent women and children.
The context leading to Hogan’s decision involves an attack by Hamas on October 7, in which thousands of rockets were fired into southern Israel, resulting in the death of more than 250 people attending a music festival near the Gaza border. Almost 1,400 people were murdered that day by Hamas terrorists, including women, children, and babies who were tortured before being killed. Additionally, the Israeli military has informed families that 203 people were kidnapped and are being held hostage by Hamas.
Following the attack, student organizations at Harvard University, including the Harvard Graduate Students for Palestine, Harvard Islamic Society, Harvard Jews for Liberation, and Amnesty International at Harvard University, wrote a joint letter holding the Israeli regime responsible for the violence. However, several student groups removed their signatures from the letter after facing backlash for supporting Hamas.
While Harvard University issued a statement condemning the Hamas attacks and distancing themselves from the opinions expressed by the student organizations, some donors, such as billionaire Bill Ackman and former Harvard University president Lawrence H. Summers, criticized the student letter and requested the names of the organization members.
The situation at Harvard University raises concerns about the presence of antisemitism on campus and the impact it may have on academic engagement and dialogue. The voice of former Governor Hogan withdrawing from the fellowship program highlights the need for a balanced approach in addressing the Israel-Palestine conflict and promoting understanding.
