ACF-Harvard Urges Administration to Condemn Antisemitic HLS Divestment Referendum
Dear President Garber and Provost Manning:
I urge you to condemn the March 11-13 vote on the divestment referendum at Harvard Law School. This referendum unfairly singles out Israel—the world’s only Jewish state—and deepens divisions on campus, particularly for Jewish, Israeli, and pro-Israel students. It is part of a broader effort to spread misinformation about international law and Israel and fails to meet the rigorous academic standards expected at Harvard Law School.
The referendum echoes the rhetoric of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to delegitimize and ultimately dismantle Israel rather than promote peace. BDS has ties to extremist organizations, including Hamas, and has openly celebrated acts of terrorism against Israeli civilians. The referendum’s baseless claim of “genocide” is a dangerous distortion of international law. It ignores Israel’s right to self-defense against Hamas, a designated terrorist organization responsible for the October 7, 2023 massacre and ongoing hostage crisis.
Allowing a formal vote on a referendum rooted in antisemitism offers unwarranted credibility and exacerbates tensions amid rising campus antisemitism. Harvard Law must not allow itself to be used as a platform for propaganda that distorts legal principles and promotes hostility toward Israel.
Please take decisive action to ensure that Harvard Law remains a welcoming place for all students by condemning the referendum and adopting a policy that rejects future politicized divestment initiatives.
Sincerely,
[Your Name & Affiliation]