Columbia University has been accused in a new lawsuit of failing to protect Jewish students amid a wave of anti-Israel protests rocking the Ivy League campus.
The class-action lawsuit, filed Monday by an anonymous student, recognizes the right to protest and the fact that colleges have long been a venue for lively debate between opposing viewpoints.
But the plaintiff alleged that while some protesters in Columbia are peaceful, a number of others “continue to commit acts of violence.”
“They intimidate and harass Jewish students and professors, they incite demonstrators to use hate speech,” the complaint reads.
“(They) are also committing acts of violence that are taking place, and they have even called for terrorist attacks against the United States and the State of Israel. »
According to the case filed against university administrators, Jewish students were physically assaulted and targeted with pro-Hamas hate speech.
The suit also accuses the protesters of inciting violence against Jewish students and pro-Israel counterprotesters on campus.
“A few weeks ago, Columbia was telling anyone who would listen that it provided a safe space for its students to learn, debate and even protest,” Jay Edelson, one of the trial attorneys, told News Nation .
“But today, Jewish students are being driven off campus by open threats and harassment from extremists in the protest movement, whose incitement is becoming increasingly violent.
“Rather than protect its students, Columbia has been complicit by offering an “Internet Optional” university that only students it cannot protect can use. We are fighting for safe passage for all Columbia students on campus, to which they are all entitled.
The attorneys argued that listening to encampment requests, negotiating and moving to a hybrid learning model is “unfair,” creating additional tensions between Jewish and non-Jewish students.
The student behind the lawsuit has not been named and also represents all other Columbia students forced to study online as a result of the protests.
The lawsuit asked Columbia to comply with policies regarding student safety and return to in-person learning as well as compensatory and punitive damages.
New York Post
