Harvard University is facing further controversy as a small plane towed a banner with a Palestinian flag and the phrase 'Harvard hates Jews' over the campus. The anonymous group claiming responsibility identifies itself as a group of Jewish students on campus, but the owner of the company that created the banner said it 'didn't come from inside the walls of Harvard.' Students expressed frustration and confusion, and some were upset by the banner. The pro-Palestinian organization condemned the banner as racist and antisemitic. Harvard leaders have been criticized for their response. The House Education and Workforce Committee announced a formal investigation into the learning environments at Harvard, UPenn, and MIT. [5c0e683b]
In a related development, Delta Air Lines has announced a change to its uniform policy following a recent controversy involving flight attendants wearing Palestinian pins. The airline will no longer allow employees to wear pins representing countries or nationalities other than the U.S. This change comes after a viral social media post about Palestinian pins worn by Delta flight attendants sparked controversy. The post raised concerns about the pins being referred to as 'Hamas badges,' but many users pointed out that they were actually the Palestinian flag. Delta initially responded to the post but later deleted their reply, apologizing for the 'hurtful' post and vowing to strive for inclusivity and respect. The airline clarified that neither employee was fired and that they were compliant with Delta uniform guidelines. The Delta employee who authored the reply has been counseled and no longer supports Delta's social channels. [fdd1f9c9]
Delta Airlines is also facing backlash over a now-deleted tweet that was seen as anti-Palestinian. The tweet, which was posted on July 31, 2021, featured a map of the Middle East without labeling Israel but included the Palestinian flag. Social media users accused Delta of erasing Israel from the map, and the tweet received significant backlash. Delta Airlines deleted the tweet and issued an apology, stating that it was not representative of their values. The incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the importance of accurate representation in public statements. [dc5738af]