Lawsuit accuses Columbia of singling out 2 pro-Palestinian groups by suspending them after protest

By KAREN MATTHEWS
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against Columbia University for suspending two student groups that had protested Israel’s actions in the Gaza war. The lawsuit accuses Columbia of violating its own rules by suspending the two groups, Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace. The groups took part in protests against the Israeli military offensive that followed the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack. A Columbia spokesperson said university officials would decline to comment on pending litigation. The lawsuit was filed on Monday, the same day that a Republican-led Congressional committee announced a hearing on antisemitism at Columbia.