Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and several members of the far-left “Squad” are facing a class action lawsuit filed by five students, alleging that they incited anti-Israel protests and illegal encampments at Columbia University.
The lawsuit claims that the protests violated university rules and caused harassment and intimidation of Jewish students, with two of the plaintiffs identifying as Jewish and recounting instances of antisemitic behavior during the protests.
“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 states.
Columbia students file lawsuit against campus protesters, Squad members over anti-Israel encampments https://t.co/KbPti0B2y4
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) August 5, 2024
The encampment received significant media attention, disrupting classes and resulting in a shift to online learning and the cancellation of graduation ceremonies.
The lawsuit emphasizes the negative impact these actions had on the broader student body and their educational pursuits.
“During the protests, I witnessed numerous offensive and antisemitic signs and messages, including antisemitic skunk posters with the Star of David,” one student said.
“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 added.
“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 states.
