Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — As the first day of hearings began in the President and Fellows of Harvard College v. US Department of Health and Human Services, people gathered outside the Moakley Federal Courthouse.
The Trump Administration has threatened to freeze three billion dollars in grants, leading to court hearings to determine the validity of the government's reasonings.
The crowd numbered about 100 people to support the university. Members of the Harvard staff and alumni spoke at the gathering. It was set up by Crimson Courage, an alumni association that was formed to resist the Trump Administration's targeting of Harvard.
Kirsten Weld is a history professor at Harvard who spoke about how she believed that if the government wins this trial, it will set a bad precedent for schools across the country.
“If the Trump administration can break the country’s wealthiest, most powerful university, they will not stop until every school in the United States is brought under their control,” Weld said.
Cambridge City Councilor Patricia Nolan, who is a Harvard alumnus, also spoke at the event.
“Attacking Harvard, which is known worldwide as a beacon for education and learning; it's an attack on America,” Nolan said.
Judge Allison Burroughs appears to be leaning in favor of the university, citing the government’s lack of evidence and questionable rationale, specifically in their claims of antisemitism.
President Trump vows to appeal the decision if the administration loses in court.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.