CAMBRIDGE, MASS. (WHDH) - A crowd gathered on Harvard’s campus, protesting the latest actions taken by the Trump administration against the university.
President Donald Trump is directing government agencies to cancel all contracts with Harvard.
The contracts are reportedly worth about $100 million.
“Other people in the country are seeing the pressure that we’re under and it’s very scary,” said Marry Anne Fox, Harvard Alum.
The call to cancel contracts is the latest move by the Trump administration after Harvard refused to comply with its orders to fully cooperate with immigration authorities and change its hiring and admissions policies.
“He’s just gonna keep coming and Harvard just needs to keep pushing back,” said Ryan Enos, Harvard Professor of Government.
“We are going to fight every single step of the way,” said Senator Ed Markey.
Democratic lawmakers, like Markey, and Harvard alum, Governor Maura Healey, are putting their support behind the university.
“When Trump attacks Harvard, he’s attacking Massachusetts’ economy and the United States’ economy,” said Governor Healey.
President Trump has already ordered his administration to freeze over $2 billion in federal funds and threatened to pull another $3 billion in grant money from Harvard on Monday.
Harvard President Alan Garber addressed it during an interview with NPR on Tuesday.
“The research funding is given to universities to carry out work that the federal government designates is high priority work,” said Garber. “Shutting off that work does not help the country even as it punished Harvard.”
President Trump has also ordered a ban on Harvard’s ability to enroll foreign students.
Soon-to-be graduates came up in cap and gown to speak up for their classmates who otherwise feel voiceless.
“My friends just traveled back for the summer, they are in a limbo. They don’t know whether they will be able to come back to the place they love, to the place they call home,” said Leo Gerden, graduating senior.
“To think that the next student like me from my hometown or a hometown similar might not have that experience is a real shame,” said Victor Flores, graduating senior.
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