Court victory for Harvard in research funding fight - Harvard Gazette

""While combating antisemitism is "indisputably an important and worthy objective," the court wrote, the allegations amount to little more than "a smoke screen" for broad demands that seek to bring the University into line with the administration's preferred ideological viewpoint. This effort violates Harvard's First Amendment rights and ignores procedural requirements laid out in federal law, the court ruled.""

""The idea that fighting antisemitism is Defendants' true aim is belied by the fact that the majority of the demands they are making of Harvard to restore its research funding are directed, on their face, at Harvard's governance, staffing and hiring practices, and admissions policies-all of which have little to do with antisemitism and everything to do with Defendants' power and political views," the court said, adding: "The First Amendment is important and the right to free speech must be zealously guarded. Free speech has always been a hallmark of our democracy.""

A U.S. District Court in Boston struck down the federal government's cancellation of $2.2 billion in research funding to Harvard. Harvard filed suit in April after the government issued a freeze order. Judge Allison Burroughs granted summary judgment, finding the administration's demands targeted governance, staffing, hiring practices, and admissions rather than addressing antisemitism. The judge described the antisemitism rationale as a "smoke screen" and ruled the funding cancellation violated Harvard's First Amendment rights and federal procedural requirements. Harvard President Alan Garber said the ruling affirms the University's First Amendment and procedural rights.

Read at Harvard Gazette