Dear Harvard University Administration,

Harvard must take a firm stand against hate by ensuring that all students, faculty, and staff are protected from intimidation, destruction of property, and hostile threats against community groups. Such actions undermine the principles of open discourse and mutual respect that are essential to a safe learning environment. The university must act decisively to uphold these values and ensure that hate-driven acts are treated with the seriousness they deserve.

We, the undersigned members of the Harvard University community and concerned citizens, call for the immediate termination of Jonathan S. Tuttle, an employee at the Radcliffe Institute’s Schlesinger Library, due to his unacceptable and targeted actions on March 4, 2025. Additionally, we demand the immediate banning of Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine (HOOP) as an officially recognized group due to its continued engagement in actions that create a hostile and unsafe campus environment.

Tuttle was identified through photographic and video evidence as the individual who tore down a poster depicting the faces of Israeli hostages, including the murdered Bibas children, Ariel (4 years old) and Kfir (10 months old). This act of vandalism, widely circulated on social media, constitutes a deliberate act of harassment against the Jewish community and an attack on freedom of religion.

Furthermore, HOOP’s rally, at which this incident occurred, has demonstrated a pattern of behavior that incites hostility, promotes harassment, and fosters an environment of intimidation. The continued presence of this group on campus violates Harvard’s commitment to a safe and respectful academic environment by engaging in actions that silence and intimidate members of the community.

The Harvard University Police Department has confirmed that this incident is being investigated as a bias-related incident. Additionally, Harvard University’s administration, including Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Sherri Ann Charleston, has publicly condemned the act as a violation of the institution’s values and Campus Use Rules. These actions are not just vandalism but acts of intimidation that threaten the safety and well-being of students, faculty, and community members.

This type of behavior creates a hostile environment on campus, which is incompatible with Harvard’s commitment to ensuring that all students and faculty can safely express their views without fear of harassment or discrimination. Given the severity of this incident, Harvard must take swift and decisive action to uphold its stated values and protect its community.

We demand the following actions:

1. The immediate termination of Jonathan S. Tuttle’s employment at Harvard University.
2. The immediate banning of HOOP as a recognized student organization due to its role in fostering an unsafe and hostile campus environment.
3. A formal commitment from the university to enforce stronger protections against acts of bias-related intimidation and vandalism to prevent future incidents.

Harvard University has a responsibility to protect its students and maintain an environment free from targeted harassment and acts of bias. If the administration is truly committed to the values of inclusion and respect, then it must take immediate action to remove individuals and organizations that engage in hateful and destructive behavior.

We urge you to act now.