Harvard Law Student Claims Friend Protected Her from ‘Aggressive’ Individual at Anti-Israel Protest
Israeli student jeopardizes safety of peaceful protestors, claims Harvard’s Aashna Avachat
A fellow law student at Harvard University has defended the actions of a student who confronted an Israeli student during a campus protest, stating that the Israeli posed a risk to the “peaceful protestors.” Aashna Avachat, a second-year Harvard Law student who participated in the protest, made these claims in a series of social media posts.
Avachat was supporting her classmate, Ibrahim Bharmal, who was captured on video grabbing and confronting the Israeli student during the protest on October 18. Bharmal is an editor of the Harvard Law Review.
According to Avachat, Bharmal was protecting anti-Israel demonstrators from a student who was filming their activities and putting them at risk. Avachat also alleged that the Israeli student was masked to hide his identity, although later evidence showed that he was not wearing a mask. While the Israeli student did not physically touch the protesters, Avachat claimed that he came close to doing so.
“Ibrahim was present as a safety marshal and stood in front of the masked student to protect OUR safety. The student was taking invasive photos and getting in our faces,” Avachat wrote in one post. “Beyond the aggressive behavior from counterprotestors, this die-in was entirely peaceful.”
I was at this protest. Ibrahim was present as a safety marshal and stood in front of the masked student to protect OUR safety. The student was taking invasive photos and getting in our faces. In the video, you can see Ibrahim has both hands on his keffiyeh at all times. https://t.co/YpMELWrv6C
— Aashna (@axshna) November 2, 2023
“Ibrahim was standing in between a masked student who was trying to harass peaceful demonstrators,” she said in another post. “This student was taking photos of us two inches from our faces, stepping over and nearly stepping on us, for the explicit purpose of doxxing students. That, by its very nature, is harassment and threatened our safety.”
This post is so misleading. Caught on camera confronting and blocking a Jewish student from walking on campus? Ibrahim was standing in between a masked student who was trying to harass peaceful demonstrators. For a writer, you must do better with your words. https://t.co/sRox3KLT3v
— Aashna (@axshna) November 2, 2023
this student was taking photos of us two inches from our faces, stepping over and nearly stepping on us, for the explicit purpose of doxxing students. that, by its very nature, is harassment and threatened our safety. safety marshals intervened without touching the student. https://t.co/p4rpWPyZk9
— Aashna (@axshna) November 2, 2023
Avachat’s posts are the latest in a series of defenses from the Harvard community regarding Bharmal and fellow graduate student Elom Tettey-Tamaklo, who was also filmed confronting the Israeli student. In videos obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, Bharmal, Tettey-Tamaklo, and other attendees wearing keffiyehs surrounded the Israeli student, shouting “SHAME!”
Harvard has not addressed the incident beyond a statement from Harvard Business School dean Srikant Datar, who vaguely referred to a “troubling confrontation between one of our MBA students and a subset of the protestors.” The school did, however, remove Tettey-Tamaklo’s online bio, as reported by the Free Beacon, and announced the formation of a task force to assist student protesters whose names were made public after blaming Israel for a terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7.
Avachat, who did not respond to a request for comment, works as an editorial assistant at MacMillan Publishers and is passionate about amplifying marginalized voices in publishing. Her personal website, archived version available, identifies her as the editor of Study Break, a young adult college anthology coming Winter 2023 from Feiwel & Friends / Macmillan.
Avachat is also listed as a Harvard Youth Advocacy and Policy Lab fellow, where she gains deep expertise in racial justice to change inequitable youth-facing legal and social systems.
In addition to defending Bharmal, Avachat has shared posts from congresswoman Cori Bush and others that criticize the criticism of anti-Semitic representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, as well as posts that call for the “deprogramming” of those influenced by ”zionist indoctrination.”
Examples of such indoctrination include the claim that Hamas wants to “kill all Jews,” which the author of the post attempted to rebut by quoting Hamas’s 2017 charter. During their assault on the Jewish state on October 7, Hamas terrorists expressed joy as they killed innocent women and children, with one boasting to his parents about killing Jews.
“I killed her and I killed her husband,” the terrorist said. “I killed 10 with my own hands! Dad, 10 with my own hands!”
What is Aashna Avachat’s claim regarding Ibrahim Bharmal’s actions at the protest?
Israeli student jeopardizes safety of peaceful protestors, claims Harvard’s Aashna Avachat
A recent incident at Harvard University has ignited a fiery debate about the actions of a student who confronted an Israeli student during a campus protest. Aashna Avachat, a second-year Harvard Law student who participated in the protest, is defending her classmate Ibrahim Bharmal, who was captured on video grabbing and confronting the Israeli student.
Avachat claims that Bharmal was merely protecting anti-Israel demonstrators from a student who was filming their activities and potentially putting them in danger. She also alleged that the Israeli student was masked to hide his identity, although later evidence disproved this claim. While the Israeli student did not physically touch the protesters, Avachat argued that he came dangerously close to doing so.
“Ibrahim was present as a safety marshal and stood in front of the masked student to protect OUR safety. The student was taking invasive photos and getting in our faces,” Avachat wrote in one social media post. “Beyond the aggressive behavior from counterprotestors, this die-in was entirely peaceful.”
Avachat’s posts on social media are just the latest in a series of defenses from the Harvard community regarding Bharmal and his fellow graduate student Elom Tettey-Tamaklo, who was also filmed confronting the Israeli student. In videos obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, Bharmal, Tettey-Tamaklo, and other attendees wearing keffiyehs can be seen surrounding the Israeli student and shouting “SHAME!”
The incident has sparked a wider discussion about the limits of free speech on campus and the protection of peaceful protest. While it is clear that tensions were high and emotions were running strong during the demonstration, it is important to address these issues in a fair and balanced manner.
The right to peacefully protest and express dissenting opinions should be safeguarded on college campuses. However, it is equally important to respect the rights and safety of all individuals, including those who may hold opposing views. Resorting to physical confrontation or intimidation tactics undermines the principles of open dialogue and respectful debate.
In order to foster an environment of intellectual growth and understanding, it is necessary for universities to educate their students on effective methods of peaceful protest and constructive engagement. This includes respecting the boundaries and dignities of others while still voicing one’s opinion.
While the incident at Harvard may have generated controversy and conflicting narratives, it serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges universities face in maintaining a balance between freedom of expression and ensuring the safety and well-being of their students. It is crucial for institutions of higher learning to address these issues head-on and strive for an atmosphere of inclusivity, tolerance, and respectful discourse.
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