Harvard students held a protest Sunday at Cambridge Common, denouncing the university’s rollback of diversity initiatives and tenure decisions. The demonstration follows Harvard’s elimination of a minority recruitment program and the denial of tenure to a gender studies professor, fueling outrage among activist student groups.
Roughly 40 students participated in the protest organized by Harvard’s chapter of Amnesty International, recently recognized as an official campus group. Students claimed the university is suppressing minority voices and yielding to conservative political pressure. Krupali M. Kumar, a protest organizer, stated Harvard is “telling us who can speak and who gets punished,” echoing concerns that institutional policy is being shaped by external scrutiny.
The demonstration centered on two main grievances: the university’s May termination of the Undergraduate Minority Recruitment Program and the recent decision not to grant tenure to a professor in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department. Both actions have been criticized by progressive students as undermining Harvard’s stated commitment to diversity.
The protest was peaceful but highly charged, with student leaders accusing the administration of betraying its educational mission. Chants and signs at the rally condemned what students see as a pattern of administrative retreat from inclusion efforts, especially under the glare of federal attention.
Under President Trump’s administration, Harvard has faced increased pressure from Washington over a range of issues, including foreign student enrollment, federal funding, and its handling of antisemitism allegations. Activists allege that this pressure has caused the university to quietly revise long-standing diversity policies, fearing political and financial consequences.
Supporters of Harvard’s recent actions argue the university is correcting ideological imbalance and restoring academic integrity. Critics, however, insist the rollback reflects a dangerous precedent where political expedience trumps institutional values.
As universities nationwide reevaluate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, Harvard’s internal conflict signals a broader reckoning. The growing divide between activist students and academic leadership raises ongoing questions about the future of speech, fairness, and ideology in elite education.
