Twin Brothers Sue Columbia University Over Prolonged Jew Hatred on Campus
A pair of Long Island twins, David and Jonathan Lederer, have filed a federal lawsuit against Columbia University, alleging that the institution's trustees continue to allow Jew hate to flourish on campus. The brothers claim that the university's "institutional tolerance for antisemitism" manifests across campus, including in lecture halls.
The twins' experience with Jew hatred began after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israeli civilians. During this time, both brothers were accosted by radical student protestors and subjected to hate speech, including being called "kike," "Zionist pig," and "baby killer." David was even attacked while holding an Israeli flag outside federal court in Manhattan.
The lawsuit states that the university's Student Conduct team frequently imposes excessive sanctions on Jewish or Zionist students, while barely penalizing non-Jewish or anti-Zionist students. The twins claim that this double standard allows antisemitic behavior to continue unchecked.
Jonathan Lederer recalled a recent incident where a professor downplayed a student's use of language referring to the war between Israel and Gaza. "The kid said 'What? Genocide?' And the professor goes, 'Better,'" Jonathan explained.
The lawsuit also alleges that Tarek Bazrouk, an affiliate of Within Our Lifetime, a Palestinian-led community organization, was arrested for attacking David in December 2024 after calling him a Nazi. The FBI discovered antisemitic text messages on Bazrouk's phone and found weapons in his apartment.
Jonathan stated, "Structural antisemitism is still there. The same culture exists." He hopes that this lawsuit will lead to structural change at the university, ensuring that Jewish students are protected from Jew hatred.
The brothers want Columbia University to acknowledge its violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and seek unspecified punitive and compensatory damages.
Columbia University declined to comment on the allegations made by the twins.
A pair of Long Island twins, David and Jonathan Lederer, have filed a federal lawsuit against Columbia University, alleging that the institution's trustees continue to allow Jew hate to flourish on campus. The brothers claim that the university's "institutional tolerance for antisemitism" manifests across campus, including in lecture halls.
The twins' experience with Jew hatred began after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israeli civilians. During this time, both brothers were accosted by radical student protestors and subjected to hate speech, including being called "kike," "Zionist pig," and "baby killer." David was even attacked while holding an Israeli flag outside federal court in Manhattan.
The lawsuit states that the university's Student Conduct team frequently imposes excessive sanctions on Jewish or Zionist students, while barely penalizing non-Jewish or anti-Zionist students. The twins claim that this double standard allows antisemitic behavior to continue unchecked.
Jonathan Lederer recalled a recent incident where a professor downplayed a student's use of language referring to the war between Israel and Gaza. "The kid said 'What? Genocide?' And the professor goes, 'Better,'" Jonathan explained.
The lawsuit also alleges that Tarek Bazrouk, an affiliate of Within Our Lifetime, a Palestinian-led community organization, was arrested for attacking David in December 2024 after calling him a Nazi. The FBI discovered antisemitic text messages on Bazrouk's phone and found weapons in his apartment.
Jonathan stated, "Structural antisemitism is still there. The same culture exists." He hopes that this lawsuit will lead to structural change at the university, ensuring that Jewish students are protected from Jew hatred.
The brothers want Columbia University to acknowledge its violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and seek unspecified punitive and compensatory damages.
Columbia University declined to comment on the allegations made by the twins.