Boston University students, staff rally for change after pride flags removed: "It's clearly politically targeted"

United in outrage, students and staff gathered outside Boston University's administrative center Thursday, calling for changes to a policy they say unfairly targets and removes pride flags across campus. Organizers told WBZ more than 2,000 people signed a petition for policy change. 

"Our own institution, like so many others, has imposed an expanding stranglehold on what we can say," one speaker told the crowd.

Pride flag removed from professor's window

The controversy was sparked after BU professor Nathan Phillips said a pride flag hanging in his office window was removed several times last month.

"On the 12th, I got a note that was left with the folded-up flag on my office door saying it had been removed," Phillips said. "Then it was taken down again on the 15th of March."

Protesters claim the university has selectively removed certain flags and signs while allowing others to remain visible. 

"It is confusing it feels dangerous at a time when free speech is being threatened across the country every day," said recent graduate Ruby Hawes.

Boston University signage policy 

In a statement to WBZ, a Boston University spokesperson said, "Our policy applies to all outward-facing signage posted by students, faculty, and staff - regardless of content or viewpoint. The suggestion that the University is singling out the Pride flag with this policy is untrue."

Phillips, however, pointed to other displays around campus and ones from the past that were not removed.

"I put up letters that spelled divest in this very window," he said, urging the university to divest from fossil fuels. "That was 2012, 2013, apparently BU was okay with it at that time, they never took it down." 

Senior lecturer Dr. Laura Jimenez cited similar concerns and pointed to a time when a cardboard cutout of Michelle Obama was reportedly removed from a residence hall. 

"The implementation of this [policy] is not even-handed, it's not fair," she said. "In fact, if you want to take a look across the street on the corner there is a close to life sized balloon of Taylor Swift that's been completely ignored for five months." 

"It's clearly politically targeted," Phillips added. 

Following the rally, the university's vice president and chief of staff to the president accepted the petition and said administrators are open to a conversation at a later date.