Accusing far-left lawmakers of igniting the unrest at Columbia University this spring with their anti-Israel rhetoric, five Columbia students are suing these lawmakers for endorsing anti-Semitic encampments at the college.
According to Fox News, Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Jamal Bowman of New York, and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, along with several anti-Israel organizations, were named in the lawsuit.
“The Gaza Encampment was extreme and outrageous conduct. It was illegal. It violated university rules. Its occupants harassed, followed, physically blocked, intimidated, and bullied Jewish students,” the lawsuit reads.
“During the protests, I witnessed numerous offensive and antisemitic signs and messages, including antisemitic skunk posters with the Star of David,” a student identified in the lawsuit as ‘Tim Doe’ said, according to the New York Post.
“In one instance, I was walking with my non-Jewish friends when I was singled out because I was wearing my yarmulke. A leader of the pro-Palestinian protest approached our group and confronted me. He singled me out, yelling that I needed to move, and when I refused, he began to shove me out of the way,” he said.
A student identified as ‘Eric Doe,’ said in the lawsuit that he “felt like he was living under an ominous cloud of doubt and uncertainty as he waited for the protestors or administration’s next move that would further impact his studies and life on campus.”
A sophomore identified as ‘Michael Doe’ said that during the pro-Hamas protests, he was told, “Keep walking, Zionist,” and was followed and yelled at by anti-Israel demonstrators.
“In a civilized community, one does not call for the obliteration of a major metropolitan area, praise terrorists, or threaten death and destruction upon our classmates and their families, friends, and coreligionists,” the lawsuit said.
“Those were real damages sustained by the 36,000 students at Columbia who chose to obey university rules, go to class, and pursue their education, only to be frustrated at the finish line by the … acts of their classmates and professors, with the assistance and encouragement of outside activists,” the lawsuit said.
At the time, the protests had the backing of Ocasio-Cortez and Omar.
“It is especially important that we remember the power of young people shaping this country today, of all days, as we once again witness the leadership of those peaceful student-led protests on campuses like Columbia, Yale, Berkeley and many others,” Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said in April, according to The National Desk.
According to The New York Times, at one point during the protests, Omar suggested that some Jewish students were ‘pro-genocide.’
In June, Columbia University settled a lawsuit filed by a Jewish student on behalf of classmates who were forced to take classes online after the college halted in-person learning during the protests, according to The Washington Post.
As part of the agreement, the university pledged to provide safe passage for students, which could include 24-hour security escorts if necessary and alternative options for students facing threats to enter and exit the campus.
“We think peaceful protest is a constructive way to solve situations,” Jay Edelson, an attorney for the plaintiff, said.
He said this spring, extremists on campuses tried to “push out, figuratively and literally, people who they deem are on the wrong side.”
He said in the settlement, “Students have a focused security monitor who’s going to be able to serve as the eyes, ears, and voice for anyone on campus who feels unsafe.”
“That is a major win,” he added.
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