Current and former students of the University of Michigan have filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the school unfairly targeted and disciplined pro-Palestinian students involved in campus protests. The lawsuit accuses the university of violating the students’ constitutional rights to free speech, due process, and equal protection under the law, naming the Board of Regents, president, and vice president of student life as defendants.
The students claim that the University of Michigan took discriminatory actions against them, such as disciplinary proceedings, issuing trespass notices, terminating campus jobs, and blacklisting them from future employment, in response to their involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. The lawsuit also highlights incidents of police intervention at a sit-in protest at the President’s office, where students were allegedly injured, including one student who had her hijab ripped off by a police officer.
The lawsuit further alleges that the conflict resolution process at the university violated its own policies, with a student-led panel clearing the accused students of any violations, only to have the decision overturned by the school’s vice president of student life. The complaint against the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter was also believed to be initiated by someone hired by the university to target students involved in a protest.
The plaintiffs claim that the University of Michigan only takes action against students who support divestment to stop genocide in Palestine, and are seeking justice for the alleged violations of their rights. The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
