Lawsuit Claims
On Wednesday, six students filed a lawsuit against Harvard, alleging that the esteemed university had devolved into a “bastion of rampant anti-Jewish hatred and harassment”. It got worse by the time of the October 2018 Hamas attack on Israel.
As per the complaint filed with a federal court located in Massachusetts, Harvard professors have incited antisemitism in their classes and threatened students who voice their disagreements.
The lawsuit claims that the most startling aspect of the entire situation is Harvard’s utter incompetence and unwillingness to take any action to put an end to this egregious anti-Semitic behavior and punish the staff and students who engage in it.
The Responds
The school did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and it declined to comment to The Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper, citing ongoing legal matters.
The university has previously said that it will not accept antisemitism in any form. “My administration has repeatedly made crystal clear that antisemitism and other forms of hate have no place at Harvard.” Dr. Gay also made a statement before her resignation. At Harvard, intimidation and threats are not tolerated.
One plaintiff, Alexander Kestenbaum, a Jewish student enrolled at Harvard Divinity School, is named in the 77-page case. Four of the five plaintiffs are identified as law school students, and one is mentioned as a Ph.D. candidate. Studying public health; the other five are not named in the lawsuit.
The Protest
The lawsuit also claims that “mobs of pro-Hamas students and faculty” have marched through Harvard’s campus, occupied buildings and libraries “for days or weeks at a time, promoting violence against Jews, also harassing and assaulting them on campus.” Seemingly in reference to pro-Palestine demonstrators.
A pro-Palestine “die-in” at the Harvard Business School in October resulted in a confrontation between demonstrators and a Jewish student, who even had some physical contact with them. When the altercation occurred, the student was filming the faces of pro-Palestine activists who had previously been the target of doxxing attempts.
Nine students who supported Palestine took over University Hall for a full day in November. This was one of over two public protests that led to disciplinary action. Last month, students held a one-hour silent “study-in” at Widener Library. Pro-Palestine students and professors have not occupied any building on the Harvard campus furthermore than twenty-four hours.
After The Protest
Wilson said Khurana offered them the option to leave the building at 11 p.m. on Thursday without facing any disciplinary action. Wilson stated that the demonstrators responded by stating they would depart provided Khurana assured them they would not be disciplined.
They agreed to provide written responses to their requests and to schedule a meeting between the groups. Palestinian Harvard students and Claudine Gay, the university’s president. The students made the decision to spend the night in the building after Khurana stated he was unable to accept the offer, Wilson said.
Jonathan Palumbo, a spokesman for the college, declined to comment on the early Friday morning of the conversations between students and Khurana. Palumbo sent out an email statement early on Friday afternoon, saying, “We know the protest has dispersed and the students have exited the building. To determine the next steps and consequences, the College will review all pertinent University conduct policies.”
Damages
A press release from Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP on Thursday morning stated that the complaint asks Harvard to take “concrete remedial measures” to combat antisemitism, including disciplinary actions against staff, faculty, administrators, and students who engage in anti-Semitic behavior. The complaint also seeks damages.
Along with declining and returning gifts, the lawsuit demands that Harvard refrain from hiring or promoting professors who support antisemitism or include anti-Semitic curriculum in their courses.
The lawsuit is being filed in the midst of a congressional probe investigating claims of antisemitism on the Harvard campus. Congress has demanded a lengthy number of documents and internal conversations, which the university is now compiling.
The Removal at Harvard
The issue refers to a screening of the video “Israelism” at Harvard Divinity School in September of last year. So the film makes the argument that American Jews indoctrinate their children to support Israel. Mr. Kestenbaum had “anxiety and gross discomfort” as a result of the screening, the complaint stated.
The lawsuit claimed that besides being condemned, anti-Semitic jokes made during the film were met with cheers. The students in the lawsuit want specific damages. The dismissal of certain teachers who took part in the events they detail.
Written by Shontasia Gregory
Sources
The Harvard crimson Jewish Students Sue Harvard University, Allege ‘Severe’ Antisemitism on Campus
The New York Times Students Sue Harvard, Calling It a ‘Bastion’ of Antisemitism
AP News Lawsuit filed against Harvard, accusing it of violating the civil rights of Jewish students
Featured Image Courtesy of hissingteakettle Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Ben Becker Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
