Harvard student newspaper downplays blatantly anti-Semitic images as 'just' an Instagram post
Harvard University's student newspaper attempted to downplay an anti-Semitic graphic posted by several campus groups, including one led by faculty.
Harvard University’s student newspaper attempted to downplay an anti-Semitic graphic posted by several campus groups, including one led by faculty.
The post was originally made by the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee and the African and African American Resistance Organization but was also shared by Harvard Faculty & Staff for Justice during the weekend of Feb. 20. The graphic depicted Black men being controlled by a hand with the Star of David on it, as Campus Reform reported.
”African people have a profound understanding of apartheid and occupation,” the graphic states, before displaying the anti-Semitic picture.
The term “third world” can be seen attempting to cut the rope that is being used to control the two Black males.
[RELATED: Harvard faculty group backtracks after sharing ‘despicable’ anti-Semitic Instagram post]
Harvard immediately condemned the graphic and vowed to conduct an investigation.
”The University is aware of social media posts today containing deeply offensive antisemitic tropes and messages from organizations whose membership includes Harvard affiliates,” a statement from Harvard reads. “Such despicable messages have no place in the Harvard community. We condemn these posts in the strongest possible terms.”
”This matter is being reviewed by the University and is being referred to the Harvard College Administrative Board, which is responsible for the application and enforcement of undergraduate academic regulations and social conduct,” the university said. “Harvard rejects antisemitism in all of its forms.”
In an editorial on Feb. 21, the Harvard Crimson argued that while the post was upsetting to many, it was “just” an Instagram post– and does not mean anything about the beliefs of the members of the groups who posted the image.
”That the naked antisemitism of that graphic almost certainly passed through multiple hands without setting off alarms boggles the mind. With temperatures on campus as high as they are, this post demonstrates serious, condemnable recklessness by the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee and the African and African American Resistance Organization,” the editorial board wrote. “Still, the Instagram post was just that: an Instagram post. A few people drafted it; perhaps a few more reviewed it; someone, in the end, pressed post.”
The editorial board further wrote, “This one post does not tell us what the dozens of other members of these two organizations believe...All this Instagram post tells us is that Monday afternoon a handful of activists failed to exercise even the most basic sensitivity.”
Harvard Faculty & Staff for Justice in Palestine, after posting the graphic, issued a statement apologizing for sharing the anti-Semitic graphic.
”It has come to our attention that a post featuring antiquated cartoons which used offensive antisemitic tropes was linked to our account. We removed the content as soon as it came to our attention. We apologize for the hurt that these images have caused and do not condone them in any way,” the group wrote. “Harvard FSJP stands against all forms of hate and bigotry, including antisemitism.”
In a separate statement, the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee and the African and African American Resistance Organization also apologized.
”In an earlier version of this post we shared an image that was not reflective of our values as organizations. We reiterate our unending support for solidarity between Black and Palestinian communities and have updated our post to reflect what we stand for,” the groups wrote. “Our mutual goals for liberation will always include the Jewish community- and we regret inadvertently including an image that played upon antisemitic tropes. Antisemitism has no place in the movement of Palestinian liberation, and we wholeheartedly disavow it in all its forms.”
