On Wednesday, a billboard truck traveled around the streets surrounding Harvard’s campus, digitally displaying the names and faces of students purportedly linked with student clubs that signed onto a contentious declaration condemning Hamas’ attack on Israel.
As of Wednesday afternoon, at least eight of the original 34 co-signing Harvard student groups had withdrawn their signatures from the statement, which had been drafted by the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee and held Israel “entirely responsible” for the violence. The PSC later stated that it “staunchly opposes” violence against all people.
At least four web sites had posted the personal information of students associated with groups that had signed onto the declaration by Tuesday evening, including complete names, class years, previous work, social media accounts, photographs, and hometowns.
At least two of those sites have been taken down as of Wednesday morning for breaching Google’s terms of service.
In response to student safety concerns, several of the statement’s fiercest detractors criticized acts of violence or intimidation against the statement’s signatories on Wednesday. In a Wednesday evening email to University affiliates following the publication of this piece, Harvard Executive Vice President Meredith L. Weenick ’90 also criticized online intimidation and harassment.
The reactions followed the unveiling of the billboard truck, which identified the kids shown as “antisemites.” The display also included a link to a website that showed the complete identities of students who were affiliated with organizations that had signed on to the PSC’s declaration.
In a University-wide email sent Wednesday evening, Weenick stated that Harvard “takes seriously the safety and wellbeing of every member of our community” and “does not condone or ignore intimidation.”
“We do not condone or ignore threats or acts of harassment or violence,” Weenick said in a statement. “Officials within our Schools have been in contact with students to ensure they are aware of resources available to them if they are concerned about their physical safety or experience an immediate threat.”
Weenick went on to say that the Harvard University Police Department had “stepped up” its presence on campus and was “coordinating closely with local, state, and federal authorities.”
Later that day, the College’s Dean of Students Office informed undergraduates that Harvard Yard would be closed to non-ID holders from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. through Monday “out of an abundance of caution.”
“Currently HUPD reports that there is no credible threat to anyone in the campus community, but those with immediate safety concerns should contact HUPD,” according to the email.
The email also included tips on modifying online directory privacy settings and Harvard’s 24-hour mental health helpline.
Harvard Hillel, the University’s Jewish center, issued a statement Wednesday afternoon stating it “strongly condemns any attempts to threaten and intimidate” co-signatory groups.
“We will continue to reject the PSC’s statement in the strongest terms — and demand accountability for those who signed it,” the statement goes on to say. “But under no circumstances should that accountability extend to public intimidation of individuals.”
“Such intimidation is counterproductive to the education that needs to take place on our campus at this difficult time,” it goes on.
The PSC sent a statement to The Crimson on Wednesday, urging University officials to “immediately and unequivocally condemn the harassment and intimidation of its students.”
“The truck actively threatens students safety on campus at a time when credible death threats have already forced us to postpone a solidarity vigil acknowledging all civilian victims,” the statement goes on to say.
“It is quite literally physical threat, a heinous intimidation technique, a warning sign meant to scare ideological allies into repudiating our mission — and for the Jewish members of associations linked to our own, an unjustifiable and insulting slap in the face,” it goes on. “The doxxing truck is the ugliest culmination of a campaign to silence pro-Palestinian activism that the PSC has experienced for years.”
A spokesman for Harvard did not immediately respond to questions about the doxxing or the PSC’s criticism of the University’s reaction.
A Harvard representative stated on Wednesday that the College has reached out directly to concerned students and student organizations to provide assistance and services. College spokesperson Jonathan Palumbo said on Tuesday that authorities had been notified of doxxing on public websites.
Former University President Lawrence H. Summers reinforced his dislike for the joint statement in a post on X, although also called for an end to the doxxing.
“I yield to no one in my disgust at the statement made on behalf of 30+ @Harvard student groups.” “However, everyone please take a deep breath,” Summers added. “It is a time for absolute clarity that words or deeds that threaten the safety of others in our community will not be tolerated.”
Jason Furman ’92, a Harvard Economics professor, made a similar comment on X, claiming that he had been approached by a student who had been doxxed despite no longer attending Harvard or being affiliated with the co-signing organization.
“I am encouraged by the widespread condemnation of the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Group’s statement.” People threatening individual pupils, on the other hand, disgust me. “I’m even more shocked because many of them had nothing to do with the letter,” Furman said.