Palestinian students and faculty sue Columbia University, claiming discrimination

Five Palestinian students and faculty have filed a lawsuit against Columbia University in a New York State court, alleging discrimination based on their Palestinian identity. The lawsuit claims the university failed to protect them, "actively encouraged" harassment, and created a hostile campus environment that negatively impacted their academic work, campus life, and health. This legal action is part of the ongoing repercussions from anti-Israel protests following the October 7, 2023, attack. The plaintiffs cite incidents such as physical accosting, ethnic slurs, doxxing, and a "foul-smelling chemical substance" attack, which an investigation later identified as a non-toxic gag spray. They also argue that Columbia's actions to curb protests demonstrate "disparate treatment" compared to its response to antisemitism, criticizing the university's Task Force on Antisemitism as "asymmetric and discriminatory" for lacking a comparable mechanism for Palestinian students. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages under New York City human rights law.