Protests in Cambridge: Demand Action from Harvard

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The protests in Cambridge occurred last Saturday due to growing community concern over the Trump administration's recent measures, which have put financial pressure on the university. The Harvard community and local residents demanded that the university stand up for its students, including those currently facing threats of deportation as the administration Trump begins revoking visas.

A Call to Action in Cambridge

More than a thousand people gathered on Cambridge Common for the "Stand Up, Harvard!" event. Organized by the Cambridge City Council in conjunction with academic groups, the protest sought to pressure Harvard to resist federal lawsuits that threaten to withdraw nearly $9 billion in funding if the university fails to meet a series of conditions.

Among the attendees were students, professors, graduates, and local leaders, many carrying signs with messages like "There are no kings here" or references to the historical indifference to oppression.

Demands of the Federal Government

In early April, the government sent a letter to Harvard detailing requirements These include reviewing disciplinary sanctions for alleged "antisemitic violations" starting in October 2023, dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and fully cooperating with the Department of Homeland Security. These demands are part of a broader campaign against elite universities, intensified by student protests related to the Gaza conflict.

Protest organizers argue that giving in to these pressures would weaken democratic values. Councilwoman Patty Nolan, a Harvard alumna, noted the parallels with the historical rise of authoritarian regimes, stressing that “history teaches us that complacency doesn’t work.”

The Voice of the Students

Students like Abdullah Shahid Sial, co-president of the Harvard Student Association, spoke about fears of retaliation, including visa revocation. Sial, originally from Pakistan, emphasized the personal risks of speaking out, as he was doing at the time. At least 12 members of the Harvard community, including seven students, lost their visas this month. for participating in protests.

Harvard issued a statement pledging to protect its community and its academic mission, though it did not specify any concrete actions. More than 600 faculty members signed a letter urging the university to resist federal lawsuits, while the City Council passed a resolution urging Harvard to use its $53.2 billion endowment to safeguard its independence.

Local Support

Cambridge Deputy Mayor Marc McGovern closed the event with a call for unity, describing Harvard and the city as an inseparable “family.”

Councilwoman Nolan emphasized that Harvard's decisions will have a direct impact on Cambridge, a city deeply connected to the university. The protest also referenced precedents at other institutions, like Columbia, who caved to similar pressure and subsequently lost federal funding.

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Fountain: The Boston Globe