“Harvard sued for violating Jewish students’ civil rights, allowing ‘antisemitism cancer’ to grow on campus.”
“Jewish students file federal discrimination suit against Harvard, accuse Ivy of ‘enabling antisemitism’”
“Harvard is sued by Jewish students over ‘rampant’ antisemitism on campus”
Students Against Antisemitism, Inc. has sued Harvard University for allegedly violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in any institution or program that receives federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education. Harvard received $676 million in federal funds last year, 11% of its operating revenue, and $3.27 billion from 2018-2022.
The litigants’ legal complaint says Jewish students have been “subjected to a severe and pervasive antisemitic hostile educational environment” and alleges that Harvard “hires professors who support anti-Jewish violence and spread antisemitic propaganda…”
It demands “the termination of, deans, administrators, professors, and other employees responsible for antisemitic discrimination and abuse, whether because they engage in it or permit it” and “suspension or expulsion against students who engage in such conduct.”
The lawsuit has garnered enormous publicity, yet there has been little scrutiny of the actual claims upon which the lawsuit is based. In examining the specific allegations of antisemitism made by the students in their legal complaint, it quickly becomes clear that what SAA is labeling “antisemitism” is overwhelmingly anti-Zionism and/or criticism of Israel.