Protesters Establish Encampment in Harvard Yard
Activists supporting Palestine initiated an encampment in Harvard Yard on Wednesday following the suspension of the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee. Their primary demand is for the University to divest from Israel’s actions in Gaza.
This demonstration is the most significant protest at Harvard since the departure of former University President Claudine Gay earlier this year.
Approximately 13 tents were set up by a small group of students, while a larger crowd gathered in front of the John Harvard statue to show their support.
Access to the Yard was restricted to Harvard ID holders starting on Sunday in anticipation of pro-Palestine protests. Signs were posted warning students that setting up unauthorized structures could lead to disciplinary measures.
Student Demonstrations Across the Nation
This encampment is part of a series of student-led protests happening at various universities nationwide. Students have faced arrests for their involvement in demonstrations at Yale, Columbia, and New York University. Additionally, students at MIT, Emerson College, and Tufts University have organized encampments to protest the conflict in Gaza.
Interim Harvard President Alan M. Garber has not ruled out the use of police in response to student protests but emphasized a high threshold for their involvement. The University remains opposed to calls for boycotting Israel.
While Harvard University Police Department officers monitored the encampment, they have not intervened as the protest has maintained a peaceful atmosphere.
Protest Coincides with Passover Observance
The encampment coincides with the second day of Passover, a significant holiday for Jewish communities.
Harvard Hillel Campus Rabbi Getzel Davis, accompanied by students, observed the protest but refrained from commenting due to the holiday restrictions on work and technology use.
Students Commit to Extended Stay in ‘Harvard Liberated Zone’
Students erected around 13 tents in front of the John Harvard statue and announced plans to stay in the area for multiple days. The Palestine Solidarity Committee shared a schedule for activities in the “Harvard Liberated Zone,” including educational sessions and art activities.
Over 100 students remained at the site, cheering and dancing in support of the protesters.
While no faculty members are planning to stay overnight in the encampment, some have expressed their commitment to supporting the students.
Harvard Authorities Monitor Protest as Participants Prepare for Overnight Stay
Harvard University Police Department is monitoring the situation following the protesters’ plans for an extended stay. The Cambridge Police Department is not involved in the response to the protest.
Organizers stored equipment in upperclassman Houses before bringing them into Harvard Yard for the encampment. Approximately 30 individuals are expected to spend the night at the site, with organizers arranging for camp toilets.
The crowd surrounding the encampment has dwindled, with some participants engaging in line dancing while holding hands.
Activists Voice Demands as Chanting Subsides
Organizers reiterated their demands for divestment from Israel and the disclosure of Harvard’s investments related to the conflict in Gaza. They also called for the dropping of charges against students involved in activism and urged the administration to cease the weaponization of disciplinary policies.
The commitment to remain until divestment is achieved was echoed by one of the organizers as the crowd continued to show their support.
Protesters Call for Reinstatement of Palestine Solidarity Committee
Activists at Harvard University are demanding the reinstatement of the Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) and urging the administration to redirect funds towards Palestinian academic programs and communities.
According to organizers, students raised $12,000 from alumni to support the encampment, which was set up in response to the suspension of the PSC for violating college policies.
Harvard Professor Walter Johnson Supports Nonviolent Protest
Harvard History professor Walter Johnson, who previously advised the PSC, stated that there has been no tension between protesters and police during the demonstration. He emphasized the peaceful nature of the protest and acted as a liaison between protesters and law enforcement.
Johnson’s involvement in the protest comes after his resignation from the PSC following the publication of a controversial cartoon. Organizers were seen bringing supplies, including sleeping bags, into the encampment.
Encampment Commences Following PSC Suspension
The encampment began two days after Harvard College suspended the PSC for hosting events with non-Harvard groups. The College warned the PSC of potential expulsion if they continued organizational activities.
Protesters draped a keffiyeh over the John Harvard statue in solidarity with Palestine, symbolizing their support for the cause.
Harvard Faculty for Justice in Palestine Advocates for PSC Reinstatement
Harvard professor Vijay Iyer, a member of the Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine, condemned Harvard’s suspension of the PSC and called for their reinstatement. Iyer emphasized the importance of protecting student speech and criticized the university’s actions.
Organizers at the protest received support from the ACLU and other groups, with calls for Harvard to reverse its decision regarding the PSC.
Large-Scale Protest Takes Place in Harvard Yard
Over 500 students gathered in Harvard Yard to support the encampment, mirroring similar protests at other universities across the country. The demonstration saw the erection of multiple tents and a show of solidarity with Palestinian activists.
Interim Harvard President Alan M. Garber and College Dean Rakesh Khurana have yet to comment on the ongoing protest.
In a recent interview, the Harvard University President was asked about his stance on potential police intervention in response to a call from a faculty member.
‘Time To March’ — 12:30 p.m.
An announcement was made to a group of over 500 individuals that it was time to start marching. Members of the Palestine Solidarity Committee, currently under suspension by the University, positioned themselves along pathways leading to University Hall. Other demonstrators in the Yard had brought tents, tarps, and sleeping bags, possibly stored in freshman dorms overnight.
A speaker urged the crowd to break their silence, criticizing the administration for prioritizing donors over student safety. The organizer highlighted Harvard’s support for Israel and its actions, calling for continued protest against what they view as acts of violence, genocide, apartheid, and settler colonialism.
Protesters Chant — 12:23 p.m.
Protestors engaged in a call-and-response of a section of the PSC press release following the suspension of the organization by Harvard College. Chants of “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!” and “Shut it down” echoed through the crowd. Inside University Hall, a committee meeting was in progress, as indicated by a sign on the back door.
As rain fell, protesters opened umbrellas for cover, standing in front of the John Harvard statue in Harvard Yard.
Students Gather at John Harvard — 11:59 a.m.
Approximately 200 students, some wearing yellow safety vests, assembled at the John Harvard statue in anticipation of the protest. Signs bearing the logo of the United Auto Workers, the parent union for many graduate students and academic workers at Harvard, were visible among the demonstrators.
Harvard University Police officers and vehicles were present, citing preparations for the Arts First Festival. Access to University Hall was restricted, with security guards monitoring the entrance.
—Contributions from Staff Writers Michelle N. Amponsah, Sally E. Edwards, Rahem D. Hamid, Joyce E. Kim, Azusa M. Lippit, Asher J. Montgomery, Tilly R. Robinson, and Neil H. Shah.
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Schedule and dates for the quarter-finals of the AFC U-23 Cup | sports
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4/24/2024-|Last update: 4/24/202402:59 PM (Mecca time)
After the conclusion of the group stage yesterday, Tuesday, 3 Arab teams qualified for the quarter-finals of the AFC U-23 Champions League, which will be held in Qatar until Friday, the third day of next month, at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.
Qatar, the host and home team, Saudi Arabia, the title holder, and Iraq, the champion of the 2013 edition, all crossed.
The quarter-finals of the AFC U-23 Cup in Qatar will witness several strong matches, most notably the Saudi national team’s confrontation with Uzbekistan, champions of the 2018 edition.
Schedule and times of quarter-final matches (Mecca time)
Thursday 4/25/2024
- 17:00: Qatar (owner of the home and crowd) x Japan (champion of the 2016 edition)
- 20:30: South Korea (2020 champion) x Indonesia (participating in the tournament for the first time)
Friday 4/26/2024
- 17:00: Saudi Arabia (title holder) x Uzbekistan (2018 champion)
- 20:30: Iraq (2013 champion) x Vietnam (2018 runner-up)
Schedule and times of the two semi-final matches (Makkah time)
Monday, April 29th
- 17:00: The winner from the confrontation between Qatar and Japan x the winner from the confrontation between South Korea and Indonesia
- 20:30: The winner from the confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan x the winner from the confrontation with Iraq and Vietnam.
Ranking of groups after the end of the third round ✅#U23AsiaCup #Come onAsia #Road_to_Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/rnp4i1Tovi
— AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 (@Qatar2023) April 23, 2024
Match for third and fourth places
- 18:30: The losers of the two semi-final matches.
In addition to the ambition of winning the title, the teams that finish in the first three places qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, while the fourth-place team moves on to face Guinea, representing the African continent, in the global playoff match, with the ambition of obtaining a fourth place for the Asian continent in the Paris Olympics.
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Schedule and dates for the quarter-finals of the AFC U-23 Cup | sports
“Documents”: The Minister of Industry and Trade was appointed to the Standards Authority in violation of the law, despite negligence and negligence in work
Yamanat – Special
“Yamnat” obtained documents revealing that the Minister of Industry and Trade in Sana’a, Muhammad Sharaf Al-Mutahhar, issued a decision in violation of the law in the Yemeni Authority for Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control, whose board of directors he chairs.
contrary appointment
Pursuant to the decision of the Chairman of the Authority’s Board of Directors No. (68) of 1444 AH, issued on March 18, 2023, Raya Qaid Ali Al-Ansi was appointed as Deputy Director General of the Authority for Technical Affairs.
Raya Al-Ansi held the position of Director of the Authority’s Quality Assurance Department, before being appointed Vice President of the Authority.
The Prime Minister confirms the violation
“Yamnat” also obtained a memorandum from the Prime Minister to the Minister of Trade and Industry dated March 19, 2023 confirming that the decisions bearing the numbers 64, 65, 66, 67, 68 violate the text of Article 34 of the Specifications Law No. 44 of 1999, which stipulates (The Chairman of the Board shall issue the organizational bylaws of the Authority and all regulations, regulations, decisions and instructions implementing this law after the approval of the Board of Directors).
The Prime Minister directed that such decisions should not be issued except after the approval of the Authority’s Board of Directors and the presentation of its Director General. Which means that the decision was issued without the presentation of the Director General of the Authority and the approval of its Board of Directors.
The Presidency confirms the illegality of the decision
A memorandum addressed to Minister Al-Mutahhar from the Director of the Office of the Presidency of the Republic, dated March 19, 2023, confirms that the decisions he issued in the Commission did not pass through the established mechanism, and therefore they are invalid decisions.
Appointed position for work
“Yamnat” obtained a report of the Disciplinary Council of the Yemeni Authority for Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control issued on October 1, 2022, in which the Council approved the arrest of the Director of the Quality Assurance Department.
This position was held at the time by Raya Al-Ansi, who was appointed by Minister Muhammad Al-Mutahhar as Deputy Director of the Authority for Technical Affairs.
The minutes confirmed the imposition of penalties against the Director of the Quality Assurance Department and the Director of the Industrial Department, according to what was stated in the report submitted by the committee in charge of the investigation.
The appointee is negligent and negligent in his work
The suspension was based on negligence and negligence in issuing reports, differences in procedures, and failure to respect the administrative chain, according to what was stated in the minutes of the Authority’s Disciplinary Council. However, after 6 months, Raya Al-Ansi was appointed Deputy Director General of the Authority for Technical Affairs, in violation of the Law of Specifications, Metrology and Quality Control, despite the fact that The preamble to the assignment decision indicated that the assignment was based on Resolution 44 of 1999 regarding specifications, standards and quality control, which is an indication of the extent of corruption in the authority, and of the violations committed by Minister Al-Mutahhar in the Ministry of Industry and Trade and its affiliated bodies and institutions.
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