A pro-Palestinian American organization filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Columbia University after the university’s response to recent anti-war protests. The lawsuit came after university officials asked police to break up protest camps, resulting in widespread arrests of protestors. The organization, Palestine Legal, works to protect Americans’ rights to support Palestinians and claims that Columbia’s policies are discriminatory against those who advocate for Palestine.
According to Reuters, the group also urged the U.S. Education Department to investigate the university’s conduct. Columbia University has not commented on the lawsuit.
Tensions escalated when Columbia President Minouche Shafik decided to allow New York City police on campus to disrupt student protests. This decision led to backlash from human rights groups, students, and faculty. Critics pointed out similarities to the anti-Vietnam War protests at Columbia University over 50 years ago when over a hundred people were arrested.
Protests have continued at Columbia and spread to other universities across the United States, leading to hundreds of arrests last week. The protestors called for an end to Israel’s attacks in Gaza, which, according to Gaza’s health ministry, have caused 34,000 deaths, massive displacement, and severe food shortages. These events have ignited heated debates and prompted discussions about U.S. policies, given America’s close alliance with Israel.
The current climate has seen a rise in hate crimes and bias against Jews, Arabs, and Palestinians. Notable incidents in the U.S. include the fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Palestinian American in Illinois in October, the shooting of three students in Vermont in November, and the stabbing of a Palestinian American man in Texas in February.
U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona noted on Thursday that he is monitoring reports of antisemitism on college campuses. This came after a former Cornell University student pleaded guilty to making online threats against Jewish students, including threats of murder.
