Columbia students file lawsuit against campus protesters, Squad members over anti-Israel encampments

A group of five Columbia University students on Monday filed a class-action lawsuit against the organizers and supporters of an anti-Israel encampment that disrupted their studies earlier this year.

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators flooded the university earlier this year, which resulted in more than 100 arrests. Protesters chanted pro-Hamas slogans during the demonstrations, and threatened Jewish students. The protests prompted the university to move courses to remote work for the rest of the school year.

The case claims that the students were victims of harassment and bullying, according to Fox News, and were unable to finish their in-person learning because of the unrest. The graduation ceremony was also canceled because of the protests.

"This case is brought on behalf of the students who were forced to pay that high price by the tortious acts of on-campus students and faculty and their off-campus allies who conspired to organize and continue the two-week encampment," the suit said. "That encampment, and the safety threat that it created, forced Columbia to move classes online, restrict access to campus immediately before finals, and ultimately cancel commencement."

The lawsuit lists liberal "Squad" Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Jamaal Bowman of New York, and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota as defendants, for allegedly "inciting and encouraging" the riots, the New York Post reported. The three members also reportedly showed up at the encampments to support the rioters.

The lawsuit itself does not specify any damages, but organizers of the suit told Fox News that they are seeking $30 million. Columbia University is not one of the defendants.

"Radical protesters are burning the American flag, vandalizing the homes of community leaders, and shutting down entire universities," said Daniel Suhr, one of the lead lawyers on the case. "We are fighting back to stop this lawbreaking, expose the people behind it, and provide justice to the victims of the chaos at Columbia."

Another one of the case attorneys said that the lawsuit is not just for the five students who filed the paperwork, but for students seeking justice for their education getting interrupted. 

The names of the students in the lawsuit have not been disclosed out of fear for their safety, but two of the five students are Jewish. 

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.