Two senior students at Columbia University have filed a federal lawsuit against the institution, alleging it has deliberately ignored and enabled a hostile antisemitic environment on its campus. Twin brothers David and Jonathan Lederer claim they have faced persistent harassment, physical assault, and discrimination since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, seeks to hold the university accountable for what the brothers describe as "institutional tolerance for antisemitism" that permeates classrooms, campus grounds, and administrative actions. They are asking for unspecified damages and a formal acknowledgment from Columbia that it violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Key Takeaways
- Seniors David and Jonathan Lederer filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against Columbia University.
- The suit alleges a pattern of harassment, intimidation, and physical assault against Jewish students.
- Specific incidents include verbal slurs, doxxing, and a physical attack on Jonathan Lederer in December 2024.
- The lawsuit claims the university's administration and some faculty have been complicit in fostering a hostile environment.
- The brothers are seeking damages and an admission of civil rights violations from the university.
Allegations of a Hostile Campus Climate
The 23-year-old brothers from Long Island detail a series of events that they argue demonstrate a pervasive and unchecked culture of antisemitism at the Ivy League school. According to the court filing, they have been repeatedly targeted by protestors, who have called them slurs such as "kike," "Zionist pig," and "baby killer."
The harassment extended beyond verbal abuse. The twins state they have been doxxed online and followed by masked groups shouting obscenities. The feeling of insecurity on campus became so severe that they, along with other Jewish students, temporarily left in April 2024 following a warning from Rabbi Elie Buechler that Columbia was no longer safe for them.
Incidents Involving Faculty and Administration
The lawsuit claims the hostile environment is not limited to student interactions but is also present within the university's academic and administrative structures. David Lederer, a financial engineering student, recounted a recent classroom experience.
"Just this week, a student brought up the war between Israel and Gaza, and the professor goes, ‘Poor choice of words,’" David stated. "And the kid said, ‘What? Genocide?’ And the professor goes, ‘Better.’”
The brothers also allege they were among students physically blocked from accessing university property by faculty members, including Professor Mahmood Mamdani. Jonathan, a computer science major, expressed frustration over the lack of consequences for such actions.
"None of those faculty members were punished, and many remain in positions of power at the school," Jonathan said. "Structural antisemitism is still there. The same culture exists." The lawsuit further contends that the university's Student Conduct team applies sanctions inequitably, penalizing Jewish and Zionist students more severely than their non-Jewish or anti-Zionist counterparts.
Federal Scrutiny and Financial Penalties
The university's handling of antisemitism has already drawn federal attention. In March, the Trump administration announced the cancellation of $400 million in federal grants to Columbia. The administration cited the university's noncompliance with anti-discrimination laws, accusing it of "acting with deliberate indifference toward student-on-student harassment of Jewish students."
A Violent Confrontation and Its Aftermath
The tension escalated to physical violence on December 9, 2024. While the brothers were speaking to a journalist near campus, Jonathan Lederer was punched in the face. The assailant was identified as Tarek Bazrouk, an individual associated with Within Our Lifetime, a Palestinian-led community organization based in New York City.
According to the lawsuit, Bazrouk also ripped an Israeli flag from David's hand and called the brothers "Nazis." He was subsequently arrested and charged with a hate crime for the assault. This week, Bazrouk was sentenced to 17 months in jail.
The lawsuit notes that the FBI reportedly found antisemitic text messages on Bazrouk's phone and weapons in his apartment. It also alleges he was part of a group chat that received updates from a spokesperson for Hamas' military wing.
The assault and its legal conclusion have become a central point in the brothers' case against the university, highlighting the real-world dangers they believe Columbia's campus climate has fostered.
Seeking Accountability and Systemic Change
Despite the challenges, the Lederer brothers said they never considered transferring from Columbia. They felt a responsibility to remain and advocate for themselves and for future Jewish students.
"I was not going to leave because I knew if we did, there would be no one talking on our behalf, no one talking on behalf of future Jewish students," Jonathan explained. He hopes the legal action will force meaningful changes at the university.
"My hope is this [lawsuit leads to] structural change, and that Jewish students don’t face the type of antisemitism we did," he added. "I don’t want them to feel powerless in the face of antisemitism, like we were."
David echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for institutional responsibility.
"We are looking for accountability and justice for what we faced. I don’t think any other student or minority group should go through what Jewish students have gone through at Columbia, and I think there has to be consequences when antisemitism is allowed to remain rampant."
The lawsuit demands that Columbia University acknowledge its alleged violation of civil rights and provide both punitive and compensatory damages. As of this report, Columbia University has not issued a public comment on the lawsuit.
