Harvard University: University Announces Investigation of Image Posted by Pro-Palestinian Student and Faculty Groups

On February 18, 2024, three Harvard student and faculty groups posted an Instagram story featuring an image that many deemed antisemitic. One of the groups deleted the image and apologized for using “offensive antisemitic tropes.” Harvard publicly denounced the image and said the university was referring the situation to a conduct board for further review. FIRE wrote Harvard on February 27 explaining that the discussion and debate triggered by the image is exactly the sort of productive discourse free speech principles encourage, and that a publicly announced investigation of the situation chills expression on campus. FIRE later confirmed that the university ended the investigation without exacting any discipline.