Twin brothers sue Columbia University over continuing campus climate that fosters Jew hate
A pair of twins from Long Island are taking legal action against Columbia University, accusing the institution of allowing antisemitism to thrive on campus. David and Jonathan Lederer, both 23 years old, filed a federal discrimination lawsuit claiming that Jewish students at Columbia face a culture of institutional tolerance for antisemitism.
According to the lawsuit, antisemitism is pervasive across the campus, with incidents occurring in lecture halls and during interactions with professors and fellow students. The brothers recounted instances of being harassed by radical student protestors, who hurled derogatory slurs like “kike,” “Zionist pig,” and “baby killer” at them. The harassment intensified following the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians in October 2023.
The twins also detailed being targeted online, followed by masked protestors, and subjected to verbal abuse demanding they go back to Poland. They were even blocked from university property by faculty members, including professor Mahmood Mamdani, without any repercussions for the perpetrators.
In a particularly alarming incident, Jonathan was physically assaulted during a rally by Tarek Bazrouk, an affiliate of a Palestinian-led organization, who also made antisemitic remarks and ripped an Israeli flag from David’s hands. Bazrouk was subsequently arrested and charged with a hate crime, with the FBI uncovering antisemitic text messages on his phone and weapons in his apartment.
Despite the threats and intimidation, the Lederer brothers remained committed to staying on campus to advocate for themselves and future Jewish students. They are seeking punitive and compensatory damages from Columbia University and want the institution to acknowledge its violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The lawsuit alleges that Columbia’s Student Conduct team disproportionately targets Jewish and Zionist students for sanctions while overlooking harassment and discrimination against them. The brothers hope that their legal action will bring about structural change and prevent future incidents of antisemitism on campus.
Columbia University has not responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. The Lederer twins are determined to hold the institution accountable for the antisemitic actions that have impacted them and other Jewish students at Columbia.
