BOSTON, MA — Hundreds of Asian Americans gathered in Copley Square Sunday afternoon to send a message to Harvard University the day before a lawsuit accusing the college of discriminating against Asians was set to start trial. The message as seen from two large banners hanging in the backdrop: "Harvard: STOP Discriminating Against Asian American Students" and "I Have A Dream."

Asian-American communy leaders and groups gathered in an effort to show support the Students for Fair Admissions lawsuit against the university and to protest what they say is a practice of anti-Asian discrimination in admissions. The lawsuit's plaintifs claim the admissions office has a purposeful pattern of rating Asian-American applicants lower than any other race on personal traits that might boost their chances. The Justice Department said there is evidence supporting the plaintiffs' claims, saying the process "may be infected with racial bias."

Asian American Coalition for Education (AACE) co organized the event and representatives said in a release they expected it to be the largest demonstration by Asian Americans for equal education rights, in Boston's recent memory. AACE said "Rally for the American Dream—Equal Education Rights for All" would feature prominent leaders in the local anti-discrimination movement from Edward Blum, Yukong Zhao, Lee Cheng, Stanley Ng, to Shiva Ayyadurai who is on the November ballot running for senate, as well as students.

"Harvard University manipulates the narrative on racism so that minorities are given token consideration, while in reality perpetrating racial bias against hard-working students including those from the Asian-American community. It is through such manipulation that Harvard props up its academic complex of power. It's time to end this charade," Shiva said in a statement to Patch. Although organizers asked that no one bring partian signs to the rally in Copley Square, some campaign banners showed up as a group of Chinese Americans For Trump. But politically motivated scuffles did break out, according to reports:



Things getting nasty at Studens for Fair Admissions protest. Trump supporters vs rally organizers. pic.twitter.com/EPvVh59ia0

— Simón Ríos (@simonfrios) October 14, 2018 The three hour long rally at Copley coincided with a separate Harvard Square, Defend Diversity rally in Cambridge.