Harvard University has come under intense scrutiny after it refused to condemn political violence following a controversial 2018 panel where faculty members discussed the merits of armed political action. The university has been criticized for its apparent institutional neutrality, as it has not responded to multiple requests from media outlets and watchdog groups for an official statement on the matter. The panel, held at Harvard’s Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights, was led by UNC Professor Dwayne Dixon, a known figure in far-left activism and a member of the John Brown Gun Club. Dixon, who was later associated with the Redneck Revolt, framed armed political action as a justified response to ‘fascist’ threats, drawing parallels to the historical context of American slavery. The panel, titled ‘You Don’t Stand Around and Let People Get Hurt: Antifascism After Charlottesville,’ was attended by three Harvard faculty members: Timothy McCarthy, Vincent Brown, and Lisa McGirr. McCarthy, an education professor, invoked the Trump-Pence administration to illustrate his views on ‘fascism,’ suggesting that the political climate called for a ‘more robust integration of tactics and strategies that include both violence and nonviolence.’ McGirr praised Dixon’s presentation, while Brown, an American history professor, humorously referenced the film ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ in discussing the ethical justification of punching Nazis. While the University of Chicago condemned violence following a similar incident with a faculty member, Harvard has maintained its institutional neutrality, citing its policy on public statements. The university’s Institutional Voice Working Group, which produced a report last year, prohibits the institution from issuing official comments on public matters. Despite this, the university’s stance on violence remains ambiguously outlined, with its report emphasizing ‘freedom from personal force and violence’ as a core value. Harvard has not responded to requests for comment on this issue, leaving the controversy unresolved.