Harvard Removes Black Lives Matter Signs from Campus

Harvard University has recently had to take down Black Lives Matter (BLM) signs that were displayed by professors in university buildings. Reportedly, the administrators informed two professors that these signs, which had been in the windows of the Northwest Science Building since George Floyd’s death in 2020, would be removed due to violations of campus policies.

The Harvard Crimson reports that the building manager communicated with the professors, citing new guidelines prohibiting “self-attached displays” by faculty and students. These updated rules were introduced in 2024, following a series of anti-Israel protests on campus.

James Chischolm, a spokesperson for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, explained that the letters seen on several office windows qualify as “self-attached displays” and, therefore, aren’t approved for that location. He emphasized that the area is not designated for such installations.

Additionally, Chischolm noted that the university’s regulations clearly ban self-mounted displays unless approved in specific areas. No matter the content of the display—whether it reads “Defeat Yale” or any other message—it will be removed if it doesn’t adhere to the guidelines.

Harvard has faced criticism from the Trump administration for allegedly not addressing anti-Semitism and engaging in unlawful racism. Despite the pressure and the potential loss of significant federal funding, the university seems intent on managing these concerns independently.

There’s also skepticism about Harvard’s compliance with federal guidelines, particularly regarding racial preferences in admissions, which critics argue continue to manipulate student demographics in ways that may not be legal.