The First Keffiyeh “Study-in” 

September 22, 2024

On Friday night, Harvard administrators warned students that planning to sit and study silently in a library while wearing keffiyehs, traditionally Palestinian garments, violated campus rules. Wearing the keffiyeh in times of grief is a meaningful way to process trauma, foster connection, and build community. Amid unimaginable loss, this cultural expression is vital. Are expressions of Palestinian grief and connection prohibited at Harvard?

Almost a year ago, a 6-year-old was stabbed in his Chicago home, and three Palestinian students were shot in Vermont, for wearing keffiyehs. Wearing the keffiyeh in times of grief is a meaningful way to process trauma, foster connection, and build community. Amid unimaginable loss, this cultural expression is vital. Are expressions of Palestinian grief and connection prohibited at Harvard?

When powerful institutions like Harvard University stigmatize symbols of Palestinian identity, it can embolden violent extremists. Embracing and uplifting marginalized identities, rather than erasing and censoring Palestinians, creates safety and builds trust. A growing majority of people on campus and across the U.S. believe that Palestinians shouldn’t be massacred with our tax and endowment dollars. Is it Harvard’s official policy that Palestinian deaths should not be prevented, let alone mourned? 

Prohibiting students from wearing Palestinian clothing while studying is discrimination. Last we checked, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964—which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin—didn’t have a Palestine exception. Does Harvard?