Harvard President Apologizes for Controversial Testimony on Antisemitism

CAMBRIDGE, MASS. (WHDH) – Harvard University President Claudine Gay issued an apology Friday after her recent testimony in Congress about antisemitic incidents on campus sparked backlash from many.

Backlash Over Testimony

Gay was in Washington DC alongside other prominent university presidents on Tuesday. She was then criticized after she refused to answer questions asking whether calls for the genocide of Jews would violate Harvard’s code of concord.

“I am sorry…” Gay later told Harvard’s campus newspaper, The Crimson. “What I should have had the presence of mind to do in that moment was return to my guiding truth, which is that calls for violence against our Jewish community — threats to our Jewish students — have no place at Harvard, and will never go unchallenged.”

Plane Circles Harvard Campus with Controversial Message

Gay’s apology came on the same day that a plane was again circling over Harvard’s campus while towing a sign with a Palestinian flag and the words “Harvard hates Jews.”

The plane and its sign were first spotted on Thursday.

A group behind the display calls itself “Harvard with Hamas” and claims to be Jewish students who want to bring attention to what they say is “runaway antisemitism on campus.”

“It got my attention,” said Mike Brewer while touring Harvard with his son on Friday. “It causes you to think about it.”

Harvard graduate student Shabbos Kespenbaum said he does not know who is funding the plane.

“I’m not necessarily approving of the plane,” he continued. “But the bigger picture is that Harvard has a tremendous problem with antisemitism.”

Kespenbaum said Gay “needs to resign or be fired immediately.”

“Until then, it’s not a safe place for Jewish people,” he said.

Response from Congressman and Anti-Defamation League

Himself on the Harvard campus Friday, Congressman Jake Auchincloss shared his thoughts on the situation.

“When they, all of a sudden, decide that free speech is their mantra for accepting antisemitism on campus, it’s just not gonna be accepted,” he said.

Auchincloss has been one of many condemning Gay’s remarks. He continued, referencing other recent statements from Gay, who took over as Harvard’s president earlier this year.

“In these last two months, Dr. Gay has been making a lot of second and third statements when she should have got it right the first time,” Auchincloss said. “Genocide is unacceptable. Period.”

Itself addressing the situation, the Anti-Defamation League this week said it is aware of the plane and its message flying over the greater Boston area.

“Media reports indicate that an as yet unidentified Jewish student group has organized this and that the plane will continue to fly over the area for a time,” the ADL said. “Irrespective of this particular tactic, the issue of campus antisemitism is real and demands accountability, especially by the leaders of our most prominent educational institutions in New England.”