Title: Thousands Gather at Harvard Yard in Support of Gaza Ahead of Expected Israeli Ground Invasion
Byline: KP Insider
In a show of solidarity, over 1,000 demonstrators gathered at Harvard Yard to rally in support of Gaza, ahead of an imminent ground invasion by Israel. Organized jointly by the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee and Graduate Students 4 Palestine, the rally aimed to draw attention to the escalating violence in the region.
Originally scheduled to take place on Friday evening, the rally was postponed due to safety concerns. The event came just one week after surprise attacks by Hamas on Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,300 Israelis and the abduction of 150 individuals.
In response to the attacks, Israel declared war on Hamas, launching counter-offensives that have claimed the lives of more than 2,200 Palestinians as of Saturday afternoon. With an Israeli military ground invasion of Gaza anticipated in the coming days, Israeli authorities directed over one million Palestinians to evacuate the northern region within 24 hours.
At the rally, demonstrators demanded that Harvard University urged federal officials to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Additionally, they called for greater transparency regarding the university’s investments in companies allegedly involved in human rights abuses against Palestinians.
The protesters also called upon Harvard President Claudine Gay to condemn the doxxing attacks against students who support Palestine. In response, Gay rejected calls to name and punish students who were involved in a joint statement blaming the Israeli government for the violence. This joint statement sparked national outrage and was denounced by more than 4,000 Harvard affiliates.
Several student groups, initially supportive of the joint statement, have since retracted their support due to threats and doxxing attacks faced by affiliated students. Human rights lawyer Rabea Eghbariah condemned these efforts to harass and intimidate students who stand in solidarity with Palestine.
Kojo Acheampong, co-founder of the African and African American Resistance Organization, expressed full support for the Palestine resistance against Israel, drawing parallels to previous abolitionist and anti-apartheid movements.
During the rally, demonstrators passionately chanted slogans such as “free, free, Palestine,” “no justice, no peace,” and “no more funding Israel’s crimes.” It is important to note that not every speaker at the rally was a member of the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee, as clarified by a spokesperson for the committee. They emphasized their opposition to violence against civilians, advocating for a non-violent struggle for a free Palestine.
Boston resident Andres Vega attended the rally in solidarity with Gaza, highlighting the diverse range of individuals supporting the cause.
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