Bill Ackman demands Harvard take action against pro-Palestinian students
Bill Ackman demands Harvard take action against pro-Palestinian students
The billionaire hedge fund manager asks on X: “How are these students not immediately suspended? How does this not violate Harvard’s code of conduct for students?” He demands suspension of the Harvard Law Review editor who accosted Jewish student on camera
Hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman, an alumnus of Harvard University, has called for disciplinary action to be taken against a group of pro-Palestinian students, including the editor of the prestigious Harvard Law Review, who were captured in a viral video surrounding and threatening a Jewish student during a campus demonstration following the Hamas attack on Israel that occurred on October 7.
Ackman took to his X account to express his demand that Harvard suspend the students featured in the video for their involvement in blocking the path of an individual believed to be a supporter of Israel. One of the pro-Palestinian students, identified as Ibrahim Bharmal, holds the position of editor at the Harvard Law Review. "How does this man remain Editor of the Harvard Law Review?" questioned Ackman in a Post via his social media account on Wednesday. "How are these students not immediately suspended? How does this not violate Harvard’s code of conduct for students?" Ackman, a billionaire hedge fund manager, wrote on X.
Notably, the founder of Pershing Square Capital Management garnered the support of at least a dozen other business executives who pledged not to hire Harvard students affiliated with organizations that had circulated a letter assigning blame to Israel for the Hamas attacks.
Following the unexpected attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, which tragically claimed the lives of over 1,400 Israeli civilians and soldiers, Ackman has been consistently vocal on social media. The war conflict in the region broke out on October 7 when hundreds of murderous terrorists from the terrorist organization Hamas broke through the border from the Gaza Strip and carried out a heinous massacre of innocent Israeli civilians inside Israeli territory. In the brutal massacres, at least 1,400 Israelis were murdered - babies, children, women, and the elderly - adopting tactics reminiscent of ISIS.
Thousands more were injured and over 200 women, children, babies, old men, and soldiers were abducted by Hamas to the Gaza Strip, with the intent of using them as bargaining chips against Israel. In response, the IDF has been attacking the terrorist infrastructure of the jihadist Hamas organization in Gaza since October 7, in an attempt to collapse its hold on the Palestinian population in Gaza
Last week Ackman weighed in on a letter sent by more than a dozen prominent law firms on Wall Street. These law firms issued a warning to university deans, indicating that they would not hire students engaging in anti-Semitic harassment or discrimination on college campuses.
Ackman, a Jewish billionaire and manager of a New York hedge fund who donated millions to Harvard University, recently announced that he will not donate to Harvard again. At the same time, he called on the academic institution to publish the names of students who signed a letter accusing Israel of the attack. He stated that the publication of the names would allow him and his friends, CEOs of many large companies, to avoid hiring them in the future. The biggest donors to the leading universities are Jews, so when they stop donating it will have a tremendous impact on the universities and the students.”
In a recent statement, Ackman also raised concerns about the popular social media platform TikTok, suggesting it should "probably be banned." Ackman accused TikTok of "massively manipulating public opinion" in favor of Hamas and fostering anti-Israel sentiments. His comments come in the wake of reports indicating a significant disparity between pro-Palestine and pro-Israel content on TikTok, with pro-Palestine videos outnumbering their pro-Israel counterparts by as much as 15 to 1.
Ackman took to his social media account to express his apprehension regarding the role of social media in amplifying hatred. He posted on Monday, stating, "The world is quickly moving to a very dark place. Social media has been amplifying the hate for a decade as algorithms wind us up."
Despite his concerns, Ackman also acknowledged "generational differences in support for Hamas," partly attributing them to TikTok's influence. He referenced a Harvard University poll that suggested that "51% of the TikTok generation say that Hamas’ barbaric acts are justified." This poll encompassed the views of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 who believed that Hamas was justified in carrying out attacks that resulted in the loss of at least 1,400 Israeli civilians and soldiers.
The debate over the role of social media platforms in shaping public opinion and fostering polarization continues to be a topic of considerable significance. Ackman's call for a potential TikTok ban raises important questions about the platform's impact on political and social issues.
