When people think about becoming chickens they should reconsider.
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Recent reports indicate that pro-Palestinian protests at Harvard University have significantly decreased in intensity and frequency compared to their peak in 2023 and early 2024, largely due to administrative actions and external pressures. While there are still some student-led activities advocating for Palestinian causes, such as divestment from companies tied to Israel, these efforts are less visible and more constrained than before. In April 2024, Harvard saw notable protests, including an encampment in Harvard Yard organized by the group Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine (HOOP), demanding divestment from Israel-related investments. This encampment ended in May 2024 after negotiations with the university, with Harvard agreeing to more transparency about its endowment but not fully meeting the protesters’ demands. Since then, the university has taken steps that have curtailed such activism, including: Sanctions and Probation: The Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) was placed on probation in April 2025 following a protest against the dismissal of Center for Middle Eastern Studies leadership, which was seen as a response to federal scrutiny over campus antisemitism. This has limited the group’s ability to organize large-scale demonstrations. Administrative Changes: Harvard dismissed leaders of its Center for Middle Eastern Studies and suspended programs perceived as anti-Israel, partly in response to pressure from the Trump administration and accusations of failing to address antisemitism. Federal and Political Pressure: The Trump administration’s threats to cut federal funding (over $2 billion) and revoke foreign student visas have created a chilling effect on campus activism. Posts on X from April 2025 suggest that Harvard’s administration has “gutted” programs related to Palestine and repressed protests to appease these pressures. Student Sentiment: Some students continue to express support for Palestine, as seen in a March 2025 Harvard Law School student vote urging the endowment to divest from Israel-related companies. However, this was a symbolic action and did not lead to widespread protests. Additionally, fear of repercussions, including visa revocations for international students, has silenced some activists. On the other hand, there are indications of ongoing tension. A protest in April 2025, dubbed “Stand Up Harvard,” saw about 300 people, including students and faculty, condemning the Trump administration’s policies and visa revocations targeting pro-Palestinian activists. Posts on X from April 2025 also highlight smaller-scale actions, like students disrupting graduation ceremonies to protest Harvard’s stance on Palestine, though these were not described as sustained campaigns. Critics, including some Jewish and Israeli students, argue that these protests, even when reduced, contribute to an environment perceived as hostile. Harvard’s Hillel chapter has claimed that federal actions targeting protests harm Jewish and Israeli students by undermining academic freedom. Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian groups assert that the university’s concessions to external pressures stifle legitimate criticism of Israel’s policies. In summary, while Harvard is not currently seeing large-scale protests against Israel as it did in 2023–2024, sporadic and smaller-scale activism persists amid a complex backdrop of administrative crackdowns, federal oversight, and polarized campus sentiments.
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