Hundreds of students, faculty, and activists gathered at Harvard University on Tuesday in a passionate protest against former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent crackdown on the prestigious institution—an action many describe as an assault on academic freedom, diversity, and civil rights.
The demonstration, held on the historic grounds of the Ivy League campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, comes just days after the Trump administration revoked Harvard’s certification that allows it to enrol international students—a move that could force thousands of foreign scholars to leave the United States.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed the decision stemmed from Harvard’s alleged failure to comply with federal demands for documentation about its international student body. But critics see the action as a politically motivated attack targeting Harvard’s progressive values and global orientation.
“This is more than a policy dispute. Trump has begun a dangerous march to roll back civil rights in this country,” said Clyve Lawrence, a student at Harvard who addressed the crowd during the protest. “We’ve seen it in his racist attacks on free speech and diversity, and his alliance with far-right billionaires who echo fascist rhetoric.”
Rae Trainer, another student protester, added that the administration’s policies signal a deeper ideological battle.
“Trump wants to control what our students say, think, and believe,” she told the rally. “This is a full-blown attempt to police academic freedom and shape education to match his extremist views.”
According to Harvard’s records, international students make up approximately 27% of the total student population. The revocation of its certification puts the legal status of these students in jeopardy, prompting widespread concern both on campus and globally. Currently, more than 400 students from across the African continent are enrolled at Harvard, many of whom now face an uncertain future.
Though a federal judge has issued a temporary injunction against the order, allowing the university to continue hosting international students for the time being, the long-term outcome remains unclear.
“Freedom of speech and due process are not just academic principles—they are the pillars of a democratic society,” said Ryan Enos, Professor of Government and Director of the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard. “But Donald Trump is attacking these freedoms because they stand in the way of his authoritarian ambitions. This is exactly what authoritarians do.”
The DHS, in its justification for the decision, claimed that Harvard had created “an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and implements racist ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ policies.”
These accusations have been fiercely rejected by student organizations and campus leaders, including members of Harvard’s Jewish community.
“We absolutely reject the narrative being pushed by this administration,” said Jacob Miller, president of the Center for Jewish Life at Harvard Hillel. “Our community does not feel threatened by the values of inclusion, but rather empowered by them. This political attack uses our identity as a wedge, and we won’t stand for it.”
The revocation of Harvard’s certification is not the only measure taken by the Trump administration. The university has already seen nearly $3 billion in federal research grants withdrawn, and on Tuesday, a senior administration official confirmed that efforts are underway to cancel all remaining federal contracts with the institution.
The move has sent shockwaves through the academic community nationwide, raising alarms about the future of research funding, international academic exchange, and the autonomy of American universities.
“This is a coordinated effort to dismantle the very idea of the university as a global hub of free inquiry and multiculturalism,” said Professor Enos. “When you sever ties with international students and cut off federal support, you’re not just targeting Harvard—you’re targeting the future of American innovation and diplomacy.”
Observers have also noted the symbolic weight of the attack. Harvard, often seen as a bastion of elite liberal values, has long been a lightning rod for conservative criticism. By targeting it, Trump galvanizes his political base while striking at an institution that has produced multiple presidents, world leaders, and Nobel laureates.
Meanwhile, current and prospective international students, including many from Africa, are left in limbo.
“I worked my whole life to get into Harvard,” said Amina Musa, a Nigerian master’s student in public health. “Now I wake up every day wondering if I’ll be sent home. My research, my degree, and my dreams are all hanging by a thread.”
Academic advocacy groups and legal experts are expected to challenge the administration’s actions in court. Still, the unfolding crisis has already triggered global headlines and raised questions about the role of higher education in the post-Trump political landscape.
“This protest is not just about Harvard,” said Rae Trainer. “It’s about whether the United States is still a place where knowledge, freedom, and global collaboration matter.”
As demonstrators chanted “Hands off Harvard” and held signs calling for the protection of student rights, there was a sense of resolve in the air. Organizers say more rallies are planned in the coming days and that they are reaching out to students at other universities to form a broader coalition in defense of academic freedom.
For now, the battle lines are clearly drawn, and Harvard finds itself at the epicenter of a growing clash between education and ideology in America.
