Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and other members of the far-left 'Squad' are facing a class action lawsuit alleging that they incited and encouraged anti-Israel protests and encampments at Columbia University earlier this year. The lawsuit, filed anonymously by five students, also names Democratic Reps. Jamal Bowman of New York and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, along with roughly a dozen anti-Israel organizing groups.
The lawsuit claims that the Gaza Encampment at Columbia University involved extreme and illegal conduct that violated university rules. The occupants of the encampment were accused of harassing, following, physically blocking, intimidating, and bullying Jewish students on campus.
Two of the students behind the lawsuit are Jewish, with one of them, identified as 'Tim Doe,' recounting his experience during the protests. He mentioned witnessing offensive and antisemitic signs and messages, including skunk posters with the Star of David. Tim Doe also described being singled out and physically confronted by a leader of the pro-Palestinian protest for wearing his yarmulke.
The encampment at Columbia University gained international attention as students and faculty participated in a campus takeover that lasted for weeks. The protests disrupted normal campus activities, forcing classes online and limiting access to campus buildings, which ultimately led to the cancellation of the graduation ceremony.
The lawsuit highlights the real damages suffered by the 36,000 students at Columbia who followed university rules, attended classes, and worked towards their education, only to face disruptions caused by the actions of their peers and professors, with the support of outside activists.
Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, and Bowman had expressed support for the anti-Israel protests during the time of the encampment at Columbia University.
