(New York — June 18, 2024) The law firm Kasowitz Benson Torres filed an amended federal lawsuit against Columbia University and Barnard College on behalf of Jewish and Israeli students who are victims of egregious, pervasive, and ongoing antisemitism. The complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York on June 17, 2024, on behalf of StandWithUs Center for Legal Justice (SCLJ) and over 45 student plaintiffs, seeks injunctive relief and monetary damages concerning Columbia’s alleged violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, as well as claims for breach of contract and for conspiring to deny Jewish students’ civil rights under the KKK laws.
The lawsuit includes over 230 pages of antisemitic conduct committed by students and professors against Jewish students—known to the administration and intentionally permitted to fester with little to no consequences since the initial court filing on February 21, 2024. Allegations in the amended complaint include:
- Columbia University and Barnard administrators entering Columbia’s anti-Israel encampment to tell students “we’re here to work with you,” and asking the students to speak with them to avoid disciplinary measures.
- Multiple instances of Jewish students being physically blocked from entering Columbia’s main campus because they were “Zionists,” including a human chain physically pushing Jewish students out of the center of campus.
- Multiple instances of Jewish students being physically assaulted and having religious garments ripped from their bodies with no consequences for the perpetrators, even after Jewish students reported the incidents to the administration and/or Campus Safety.
- Multiple professors cancelling classes in support of the anti-Israel encampment, having moments of silence to “appreciate the historic moment” of the encampment, and/or permitting students to leave class to participate in the encampment without any apparent academic consequences.
- Jewish students denied the ability to obtain kosher food in the only kosher dining hall for Columbia Jewish students, solely because they could not access the dining hall safely.
Since the lawsuit’s initial filing, Columbia President Shafik has conceded that Columbia has “a hostile environment in violation of Title VI,” yet has failed to take any effective steps to stop or deter the egregious misconduct and in fact instead has permitted or enabled the antisemitic acts.
“As a result of Columbia’s deliberate indifference to their hostile educational environment, plaintiffs have been unable to equally participate in or benefit fully from their Columbia education,” said Yael Lerman, SCLJ Director. “Jewish student plaintiffs report fearing for their physical safety, enduring anti-Jewish abuse and harassment, and communicating with Columbia administrators in vain over antisemitism.”
“Rather than combat the antisemitism that President Shafik admits exists on campus, Columbia has chosen to conspire with and aid antisemitic agitators in trampling its Jewish students’ rights, including by supporting and acquiescing to the demands of its encampment,” said Carly Gammill, SCLJ Director of Legal Strategy. “In doing so, Columbia has left Jewish students no choice but to invoke federal civil rights legislation like Title VI and the Ku Klux Klan Act to protect them. We hope this lawsuit will allow them to vindicate the basic constitutional rights that Columbia is denying them.”
Read the amended complaint HERE.
About the StandWithUs Center for Legal Justice
StandWithUs Center for Legal Justice (SCLJ) is a tax-exempt membership organization that partners with the StandWithUs Saidoff Legal Department, a division of StandWithUs, a nonprofit education organization dedicated to supporting Israel and combating antisemitism. Comprised of students, professors, and community members, SCLJ enhances StandWithUs’ mission through impact litigation and other legal actions. Learn more at www.swulegaljustice.org.
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