Harvard University is establishing a task force that will help students who have been doxxed after expressing support for Hamas and blaming Israel for the violence that has unfolded.
The newly created task force comes after more than 30 student organizations wrote a joint letter casting blame on Israel in the aftermath of a surprise invasion launched by Hamas on Oct. 7, leading to thousands of rockets firing into southern Israel and the deaths of more than 1,400 people, including 32 Americans.
“We are truly grateful for all the tremendous work that students have put forth in supporting each other through this most difficult time, and we appreciate the collaborative spirit in which students, faculty, and staff have come together to repel this repugnant assault on our community,” Thomas Dunne, the dean of students, said in an email on Tuesday sent to doxxed students, according to The Harvard Crimson.
The task force, which is set to begin operations starting Nov. 3, will serve as a point of contact for students facing doxxing, harassment, and online security issues.
Additionally, the task force will share resources, hear student concerns and suggestions, and communicate with university administrators and residential campus staff, according to the outlet.
Harvard will establish a task force to support students experiencing doxxing, harassment, and online security issues following backlash affiliated with a statement holding Israel “entirely responsible” for violence in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
— The Harvard Crimson (@thecrimson) October 25, 2023
🖋: MNAhttps://t.co/k81MAAlwvR
The task force will be led by the Dean of Students Office (DSO). Among the others assisting in leading the task force are the Harvard University Information Technology, the Harvard University Police Department, the Counseling and Mental Health Service Office, and the Office of Undergraduate Education, according to the outlet.
After the letter was issued, the student groups that signed the letter faced harsh criticism. This led several student groups to remove their signatures from the letter.
A “doxxing truck” was observed driving around the university campus with large video screens on the sides and back, with a slideshow of names and photos of the students, and the words, “Harvard’s Leading Antisemites.”
While Harvard University issued a statement condemning the attacks by Hamas terrorists and attempted to distance themselves from the letter the student organizations had issued, donors, such as billionaire Bill Ackman and former Harvard University president Lawrence H. Summers, called out the students’ letter and requested to know the names of the members of the student organizations.
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) recently withdrew an offer to participate in a fellowship program at Harvard University, calling out the “dangerous antisemitism” that has “taken root” on the campus.
IJR reached out to Harvard University for a statement but did not receive a response by the time of publication.