Palestinian students and faculty sue Columbia University, claiming discrimination

Five Palestinian students and faculty filed a lawsuit against Columbia University in a New York State court, alleging discrimination based on their Palestinian identity. The plaintiffs claim the university failed to protect them and actively encouraged harassment, harming their academic work and health. The suit is part of fallout from anti-Israel protests following the October 7, 2023 attack. Columbia declined to comment on pending litigation.

Five Palestinian students and faculty members filed a lawsuit against Columbia University in a New York State court on Monday, alleging discrimination based on their Palestinian identity. The plaintiffs claim the university failed to protect Palestinians on campus and actively encouraged harassment against them, harming their academic work, campus life, and physical and mental health. The lawsuit is part of the ongoing fallout from the anti-Israel protest movement that followed the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack and the subsequent war in Gaza. Columbia has faced a series of lawsuits from both pro- and anti-Israel students, and has been criticized by Jewish and pro-Israel leaders for not curbing pro-Palestinian protests. The plaintiffs allege they were physically accosted, targeted with ethnic slurs, and subjected to discriminatory treatment. They also claim they were doxxed by off-campus groups and that Columbia failed to respond meaningfully. The lawsuit criticizes Columbia's use of private investigators and suspensions, arguing these actions were motivated by discrimination. It also faults the university's Task Force on Antisemitism as asymmetric, and criticizes the immediate response to the October 7 attack by then-president Minouche Shafik. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages under New York City human rights law.