Harvard students face 'Doxxing Truck' backlash for supporting Hamas

A conservative nonprofit group has launched a truck campaign to expose the "hateful antisemites" on Harvard campus who issued a statement in support of Hamas, the terrorist organization that killed more than 1,200 Israelis and more than 25 American citizens in a series of rocket attacks in October 2023. The campaign has sparked a heated debate among the Harvard community and the public at large, with some defending the students' right to express their views, and others denouncing their stance as ignorant, biased, or hateful.

‘Doxxing Truck’ creator says he may tail antisemitic students for years

A conservative nonprofit group that organized a truck displaying the names and photos of Harvard students who signed a statement blaming Israel for the recent Hamas attacks has said that it may continue to follow the students for years.

The group, Accuracy in Media, said that it launched the truck campaign on Wednesday, October 12, 2023, as a way to expose the "hateful antisemites" on campus who issued a statement in support of Hamas, the terrorist organization that killed more than 1,200 Israelis and more than 25 American citizens in a series of rocket attacks in October 2023.

The truck, which has been dubbed the "Doxxing Truck" by some, featured digital billboards with the words "Harvard's Leading Antisemites" in gothic script over a slideshow of Ivy Leaguers' headshots and names in bold, red block letters. The truck also displayed the website HarvardHatesJews.com, which leads to a forum that encourages users to send an email to members of Harvard's board of trustees, urging them to expel the students and kick their organizations off campus immediately.

The statement that sparked the controversy was released on October 7, 2023, by the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups, a coalition of 34 Harvard student groups, including the Harvard College Democrats, the Harvard Black Students Association, and the Harvard Law School National Lawyers Guild. The statement held "the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence," and accused Israel of "ethnic cleansing," "apartheid," and "genocide" against the Palestinians.

Some students and their groups have since distanced themselves or withdrawn their endorsements from the statement amid an intense backlash inside and outside of Harvard. Several said they did not read the statement before they signed it.

However, Accuracy in Media said that it was not satisfied with the retractions and apologies, and that it planned to continue its campaign against the students for as long as necessary.

"Our mobile billboards will be at Harvard for the foreseeable future," Adam Guillette, the president of Accuracy in Media, told The Post. "We may follow these students for years. We may follow them to their first job interviews, to their weddings, to their children's birthday parties. We will not let them forget what they did, and we will not let the world forget who they are."

Guillette said that his group was motivated by a sense of moral obligation to take a stand against antisemitism, especially in light of the recent surge of anti-Jewish hate crimes across the US and the world. He said that his group did not violate any laws or privacy rights, and that it only used publicly available information to identify the students.

However, the truck campaign has drawn fierce criticism from many quarters, including from Harvard officials, civil rights groups, and some prominent alumni.

Harvard president Claudine Gay said that she was "deeply disturbed" by the truck, and that she condemned "any attempt to intimidate or harass members of our community based on their views, identities, or affiliations." She said that she supported the right to free speech, but that she also expected "civility and respect" in the campus discourse.

The Anti-Defamation League, a leading Jewish civil rights organization, said that it was "appalled" by the truck, and that it was "a dangerous and irresponsible form of harassment that crosses the line from legitimate criticism to personal attacks." The ADL said that it recognized the "complexity and sensitivity" of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and that it encouraged "robust and respectful debate" on the issue, but that it rejected "any form of demonization, delegitimization, or double standards" against Israel or its supporters.

Bill Ackman, a billionaire hedge fund manager and Harvard alumnus, said that he was "outraged" by the statement, and that he would not hire any of the students who signed it. He said that he was "a proud supporter of Israel and the Jewish people," and that he considered the statement to be "an act of antisemitism, not a legitimate expression of opinion." He said that he hoped that other employers would follow his example and "send a message that there is a price to pay for supporting terrorism and hate."

The controversy has also sparked a heated debate among the Harvard community and the public at large, with some defending the students' right to express their views, and others denouncing their stance as ignorant, biased, or hateful. Some have also questioned the accuracy and fairness of the truck's information, and the ethics and legality of its methods.

The Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups have not issued any further statements or comments since the truck's appearance, and have not responded to requests for interviews. The Harvard College Democrats, the Harvard Black Students Association, and the Harvard Law School National Lawyers Guild have also declined to comment.

Conclusion:

The 'Doxxing Truck' campaign by Accuracy in Media has sparked a fierce controversy over the issue of free speech, antisemitism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The campaign targets Harvard students who signed a statement blaming Israel for the recent Hamas attacks, and displays their names and photos on a truck that may follow them for years. The campaign has been condemned by Harvard officials, civil rights groups, and some prominent alumni, but has also received some support from others who share its views. The students and their groups have not commented on the campaign, and some have retracted their endorsements from the statement.