Protesters pack outside Harvard commencement as families focus on their graduates

Yahoo

29-05-2025

Just outside the gates of Harvard Yard, hundreds of families of soon-to-be graduates navigated the narrow brick sidewalks of Harvard Square and dodged protesters of varying stripes as they headed into the school's commencement ceremony Thursday morning.
'It's a zoo every year,' said Stephen Schneider, of Methuen, who has sold bouquets and teddy bears to families outside Harvard University's commencement for over two decades.
'From what I see, every year there's somebody protesting,' he said. 'But there's a lot of people just happy to enjoy the day.'
This year brought a new tension.
Harvard has spent weeks as the focal point of President Donald Trump's assault on higher education, with his administration zeroed in on a pressure campaign to enact massive change to Harvard's admissions, hiring, management and curriculum.
In just the last week, the Trump administration has moved to cut all federal contracts with the school and attempted to revoke the certification allowing Harvard to enroll international students, a quarter of its student body. That, on top of billions of dollars in federal funding cuts to Harvard and a seemingly endless stream of other moves pressuring the university.
Read more: Here's everything Trump has stripped from Harvard so far — and what is threatened
On Thursday, lines outside the campus snaked around the block of attendees clad in sundresses, heels, blazers and crisp collared shirts. For some families, it was the first chance to attend a college commencement ceremony.
Dozens of demonstrators lined the sidewalk of Harvard Square carrying signs protesting Trump or U.S. support of Israel. Some carried Israeli flags, others Palestinian flags. Some showed their support for Harvard's stance against pressure from the Trump administration, while others sought to lean on Harvard to stand even more staunchly against the administration.
Gabriel Rodriguez, whose family is from Mexico but grew up in Southern California, said his brother was graduating as a first-generation college student. The last few months have been stressful — for his brother on a campus under pressure from the federal government, and for the family watching it from afar.
'We were worried, because whenever there's such a spotlight on a university, you just never know what's going to happen,' he said. 'And so there were concerns that we just want to make sure that he was safe and that he was in a good place.'
Read more: 'Devastating impact': Trump's attacks on Harvard could cost Mass. millions, Healey warns
Despite the hustle and bustle, many families tuned out the noise, their attention set on the graduates.
Bryan Davis, of Dallas, was there to see his niece graduate. He didn't expect the commotion outside Harvard on Thursday morning but wasn't overly concerned. He was more focused on the joy of seeing his niece complete her undergraduate degree with a perfect GPA, with plans to become a lawyer.
'I'm just soaking it all in,' he said.
Anushka Nageswaran, of Chicago, was there with her mother, father and cousin to see her brother graduate with a degree in applied math, as well as a master's degree. He planned to return to Harvard for doctoral studies.
Even as Harvard was constantly in the news in recent months, she said her brother enjoyed his final semester. On Thursday, Nageswaran and her family brimmed with pride at the culmination of her brother's years-long dream.
Their attention was also on the forecast.
'Shouldn't rain today,' Nageswaran's father said when asked what was on his mind.
Read more: 'Worth fighting for': Community members, fellow students rally to Harvard's cause
Across the street, Jon Hiratsuka, of Cambridge, held a sign protesting Israel's war in Gaza. He said he was there to pressure Harvard to cut any potential ties it had with the Israeli government, and to support students who had advocated the same.
Nearby, his fellow demonstrators raised their voices in a chant as a camera crew from a counterprotest group attempted to interview them.
'I think it's fine, and I'm happy that people are standing up and having a voice,' Tracy Munion, of Dallas, who was there for the graduation of her daughter's boyfriend, said.
Linda McMahon, of New Jersey, at Harvard for her nephew's graduation, was pleased to see the protesters.
'I hope that their voices are heard,' she said.
At Harvard's Class Day celebration Wednesday, Bidisha Kundu listened as guest speaker and NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar praised the university for its stance against the Trump administration. She said the famously outspoken and activist basketball Hall of Famer instructed graduating students, like her brother, to carry on the work of past generations advocating for a better world.
'Whatever is going on with the world, we are all hopeful,' Kundu said. 'Hardship always comes and at the end of the day, we believe that there's an end of it. There's light at the end of the tunnel.'
Harvard commencement speaker says it's fitting to 'hear from an immigrant like me'
Many foreign students already fleeing Harvard University due to Trump order
Trump admin starts 30-day countdown on Harvard foreign students
Shadow of Trump administration hangs over Harvard University commencement
Trump proposes a 15% cap on foreign students at Harvard
Read the original article on MassLive.