The Times of Israel published a statement on November 8 asking the administration to “take actions against violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964” on campus from 94 Harvard Law School students. At the Oct. 18 “die-in” protest held in Harvard Yard, where students lay on the ground to protest the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the alumni allege that a Harvard Law student, identified in the statement as Ibrahim Bharmal ( HLS ’24 ), engaged in” a verbal and physical assault” against an Israeli student.
The video that sparked the controversy appears to have come from an Oct. 31 X ( the website formerly known as Twitter ) post by Israeli LGBT activist Yuval David. In the video, a number of pro-Palestinian protesters are seen accosting and surrounded by Jewish students wearing Palestinian keffiyehs —headscarves that have become symbols of the movement. According to the signatories, Mr. Bharmal “explicitly impeded a Hebrew student’s freedom of movement… [and prevented him from walking on school and accessing his bedroom room” in this movie.
Drone images of the die-in, which was posted by NBC on October 18 and shows a pupil walking among demonstrators lying on the ground while recording the protestors with their phone, contradicts reports that the interaction was intentionally targeted at Israeli students. Then, as the student left the area, a group of protesters wearing Palestinian keffiyehs and safety vests ( identified by other attendees as safety marshals ) led him away while blocking his view of his phone.
To de-escalate the situation,” the protest marshals used the same peaceful techniques they used in every protest.”
Some protesters expressed concern over the recording student and expressed gratitude for Bharmal and other safety marshals ‘ efforts to stop the student from” taking invasive photos and getting in our faces.” L, one of the security marshal at the opposition on October 18, described the situation as “peaceful” and pointed out that the tracking student had stepped on people who were lying down.
The marshal team used keffiyuhs ]sic ] to block the camera and usher Ibrahim to the street away from the protesters after Ibrahim politely asked him to leave.
Another attendee noted that the recording student “had his phone out, screaming something, and began stepping over students” and that To de-escalate the situation,” the protest marshals used the same peaceful techniques they used in every protest.”
The alumni statement comes in the midst of a persistent debate on school regarding the harassment and doxxing of students of color and pro-Palestinian kids. A notice from the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee regarding the problems on Israel on October 7 that was signed by a number of student groups drew harsh and immediate censure was published in October. In response, a number of institutions published lists of the names and private information of Harvard students associated with the groups that signed the letter, including current and former students who were unaware that their organizations had done so.
In addition to online listings, Accuracy in Media, a liberal nonprofit with history of disseminating conspiracy theories, has been circling the Harvard campus with trucks bearing the names, eyes, and personal data of Arab, Muslim, or nonwhite students.
Acts of coercion or doxxing that are directed at particular kids have been denounced by a number of Harvard student companies, including Harvard Hillel and the Harvard Jewish Law Kids Association. The Times of Israel statement raises the possibility that Bharmal, who has already been the target of new doxxing campaigns against Harvard students, will face additional abuse.
President of Harvard Claudine Gay ( Ph. On November 9, D.’98’ reaffirmed Harvard University’s commitment to fighting antisemitism in an email, mentioning its collaboration with the FBI and police regarding the events of Oct. 18 and the establishment of an” Anti-Semites Advisory Group” made up of Jewish Harvard residents. It also mentioned the existence of a hotline for anonymous reporting of bias incidents (877, 694, 2275 ). Additionally, Gay vowed to put into place” a strong hatred education and training program for students, faculty, and team at Harvard particularly.”
Dean John Manning of the Harvard Law School as of November 10, 2023 at 2 PM, A. B.” J. D. ’85, age 82, has not yet made a public statement on the subject. The institution has just come under intense pressure to combat antisemitism on college, most recently in the form of a Nov. 1 caution from some prestigious law firms to crack down on it and criticize it in order to prevent negative effects on graduate employment prospects.
