Discuss Pakistani Lives

I sit here, an hour before my Evidence final and in light of the recent massacre of schoolchildren in Pakistan, unable to concentrate. Why should I study law if law can’t protect children? Why should I study law if I can’t protect my children (for, yes, they are my children, too, although they are Pakistani and lived across the globe)? They are my children for the perhaps illogical reason that they are all our children.

Here at Harvard Law School, there has been a strong recent movement against police racial profiling, against police violence and against systematic racism. The movement has made numerous requests to the Dean to recognize societal injustices. It has staged numerous “Die-Ins” outside of Faculty Meetings. Many of their slogans include “Black Lives Matter” and “I Can’t Breathe,” referring to Eric Garner’s last words as he was choked to death by New York police.

Pakistani lives matter, too. And, like Eric Garner, the Pakistani children who were killed also can’t breathe. Yet, the HLS movement against racial injustice has remained silent. No vigil. No protest. No moment of silence. No staged Die-ins. This despite the fact that the Taliban’s actions may be repeated in the future—something many of my Pakistani friends are truly afraid of. A whole nation of parents is afraid to send their children to school. But there is silence in the halls of Harvard Law School.

When it affects us, it seems to matter. When it affects others, for some reason it doesn’t. We discuss Ferguson, Eric Garner, and Sandy Hook because these things matter. These discussions matter and they should occur. The protests matter, so they should occur, too. But what happened in Peshawar matters, too. And we should not stay silent. Where is the solidarity? With whom can I share my pain? The government of Pakistan declared a three-day mourning period, but I am not in Pakistan to share my pain with others there, to stand in solidarity with them. Harvard Law students asked for exam extensions because of the trauma they felt in light of the tragedies here; they marched together, stood strong together. Where is my space to mourn? With whom can I share my trauma? At least 132 children were massacred while studying in a school and Harvard Law students—even those who were marching for justice and for the recognition of humanity just days earlier—remain silent.

Elisa Dun is a second-year student at Harvard Law School. She lived in Pakistan for nearly two years.