Claiming that their anti-Israel rhetoric lit the fuse that convulsed Columbia University this spring, a group of five Columbia students is suing AOC and several other individuals and an undetermined number of anti-Semitic groups for their support and influence that has seen the harassment of Jewish students on campus. Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and fellow progressive “squad” members Reps. Jamal Bowman of New York and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota were named in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit reads:
“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.”
“During the protests, I witnessed numerous offensive and anti-Semitic signs and messages, including anti-Semitic skunk posters with the Star of David.”
“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.”
“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.”
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELOne Jewish student related:
“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.”
A student identified as “Eric Doe,” said in the suit 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.”
At the time, the protests were supported by 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.
At one point in the protests, Omar suggested some Jewish students were ”pro-genocide,” according to The New York Times.
In June, Columbia settled a lawsuit with a Jewish student who sued on behalf of students who were forced to attend classes online because the college stopped in-person learning during the protests, according to The Washington Post.
As part of that agreement agreed to ensure safe passage for students that could include giving students 24-hour security escorts if needed and allowing students facing threats alternative ways of coming and going from 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.”
