John Doe has filed a class action complaint against Northwestern University, alleging that the institution has allowed antisemitism to flourish on its campus. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on May 20, 2024.
According to John Doe, who is acting individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Northwestern University has failed to protect Jewish students from antisemitic harassment, particularly following the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel by Hamas. The plaintiff claims that this negligence has created a hostile environment for Jewish students at the university.
The complaint details numerous instances of antisemitic behavior on campus since the October 7 attack. These include chants for "intifada," shouts of "dirty Jew" at students walking through campus, glorification of convicted terrorists, and public rejoicing over Hamas' actions. John Doe alleges that these incidents have interfered with Jewish students' ability to participate in educational opportunities and have made their educational experience unbearable.
One significant event highlighted in the complaint occurred on April 25, 2024, when hundreds of individuals took over part of Northwestern's campus and formed an unauthorized encampment called the "Liberated Zone." During this period, protestors allegedly made statements comparing the encampment to Gaza and yelled anti-Jewish slogans at Jewish students attempting to enter Deering Meadow. Despite recognizing that this encampment violated university policies and created a hostile environment for Jewish students, Northwestern reportedly took no disciplinary action to remove it.
The plaintiff argues that Northwestern's failure to address these issues constitutes a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and breaches the university's own policies. John Doe seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as institutional changes to prevent future incidents. These changes include investigating and disciplining those responsible for antisemitic behavior, implementing required antisemitism training for community members, and appointing a neutral expert monitor to oversee compliance with anti-discrimination policies.
The case is being handled by attorneys representing John Doe and will be presided over by judges from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois under Case No. 1:24-cv-04125.