Harvard University is the most recent American college to have pro-Palestinian encampments appear on its campus, joining several other schools where students have been arrested this week for protesting Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Protesters at Harvard started setting up tents after The Harvard Crimson reported that the university closed yard access to non-affiliated individuals.
A sign from the school states that structures like tents and tables are not allowed in the yard without prior permission, and blocking pathways or building entrances is also prohibited. Students who violate these rules may face disciplinary action.
While constructing the encampment, demonstrators could be heard chanting “Free, free Palestine” and other slogans.
The Hill has contacted Harvard for a comment.
Columbia, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and New York University have also had pro-Palestinian encampments on their campuses in recent days.
Princeton University students are also looking at their own encampment, releasing documents expressing their belief that the school would not suspend them.
Columbia has shifted classes to a hybrid model due to the unrest and safety concerns on campus. The school has extended negotiations with students in an attempt to remove the encampment without police involvement.
The protests have been denounced as antisemitic by lawmakers from both parties, and some have called for the resignation of university leaders like Columbia President Minouche Shafik.
Former Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned in January amid allegations of plagiarism and controversy regarding her handling of antisemitism on campus.
