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Epoch Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Harvard University Settles Jewish Student's Lawsuit Alleging Anti-Semitism
Harvard University agreed on Thursday to settle a lawsuit filed by a student who accused officials of ignoring alleged discrimination against Jewish students on campus, ending a 16-month legal battle. The legal challenge was brought by Alexander Kestenbaum, also known as Shabbos, and the nonprofit group Students Against Antisemitism in January 2024. Kestenbaum and Harvard jointly agreed to end the case, according to a dismissal notice filed in Boston federal court. The student's claims were dismissed with prejudice, meaning the case cannot be bought back into court. The terms of the settlement remain confidential. 'Harvard and Mr. Kestenbaum acknowledge each other's steadfast and important efforts to combat antisemitism at Harvard and elsewhere,' the university said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times. 'Harvard and Mr. Kestenbaum are pleased to have resolved the litigation.' Related Stories 5/15/2025 5/15/2025 Kestenbaum graduated from Harvard Divinity School last year, and has become a growing voice in a Republican-led campaign aimed at rooting out alleged antisemitism at major American universities. In a separate 'By filing our lawsuit, Harvard began efforts to reform, and with President Trump's efforts it will continue to face a stark choice—enforce its policies and uphold its federal obligations or lose out on taxpayer funding and continue to destroy the University's reputation,' he continued. Kestenbaum said he would continue to the Trump administration in 'pursuing much-needed change' at Harvard and other colleges and universities across the country. Lawsuit Alleges 'Jewish Hatred' Rampant at Harvard Kestenbaum's lawsuit alleged Harvard had become 'a bastion of rampant anti Jewish hatred and harassment,' in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas incursion into Israel. The terrorist group killed 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages during the attack. Since then more than 52,800 Palestinians, many of them women and children, have been killed in the war in Gaza, The lawsuit cited protests on campus in support of Palestine that it alleged were antisemitic, and claimed Jewish students at the school have been attacked on social media. It further alleged that Harvard faculty members have 'promulgated antisemitism in their courses and dismissed and intimidated students who object.' The suit accused the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based school of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which It said the school should be compelled to implement 'institutional, far-reaching, and concrete remedial measures,' including terminating employees who are allegedly responsible for 'antisemitic discrimination and abuse,' and suspending students who engaged in such conduct. Harvard 'We have enhanced training and education on antisemitism across our campus and introduced measures to support our Jewish community and ensure student safety and security,' it said in a statement. 'We have launched programs to promote civil dialogue and respectful disagreement inside and outside the classroom.' The school added that it has also adopted many other reforms, and will 'continue to combat antisemitism and to foster a campus culture that includes and supports every member of our community.' Harvard Kestenbaum did not settle at the time and instead pursued his case against the school under an amended complaint, which was settled on Thursday. The Epoch Times has contacted a spokesperson for Harvard for further comment.
ABC News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Police investigating after neo-Nazi flyers delivered to Jewish households in Melbourne
Police are investigating after pamphlets authorised by a neo-Nazi group were delivered to homes in suburban Melbourne on Wednesday. Victoria Police are also looking into a related incident where four men displaying antisemitic signage and handing out antisemetic pamphlets attended a pre-polling centre in Kew, in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. "There is absolutely no place in our society for hate-based behaviour and Victoria Police works closely with various community groups to ensure the public feels safe and supported," a Victoria Police spokesperson said. Naomi Levin from the Jewish Community Council of Victoria told the ABC she had close to a dozen community members contact her after the flyers were put in letterboxes in Caulfield, in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, which has a significant Jewish population. "The flyer has caused real anger and distress among the Jewish community," she said. "Particularly because it's authorised by somebody who we know has been ... spreading racist and anti Jewish hate around the community across Australia for a number of months," she said. Leading neo-Nazi linked to anti-Semitic flyers, pre-poll stunt The flyer distributed to homes in Caulfield was authorised by "Joel Davis, National Socialist Network". Videos seen by ABC show 29-year-old Joel Davis, a known neo-Nazi, was one of the group of four men who attended the polling booth in Kew on Wednesday. He stood in front of antisemitic signage while accompanied by two men dressed in costumes mocking Orthodox Jews. Mr Davis wore a fake Liberal Party T-shirt featuring a doctored Israel flag on the party's logo and walked around the queue of voters attempting to hand out a flyer, which also mimicked Liberal Party campaign material. The sign was falsely stamped with the Liberal Party logo and reads: "Giving the Jews everything they want". Ms Levin said she had "grave concerns" about the intimidation and harassment of people just trying to vote. 'Many people in the Jewish community will be voting this week … and they need to feel safe and free to vote like any other Australian, and with the presence of these idiots polling booths, they they're not left feeling safe,' she said. Liberal Senator James Paterson said he was disgusted by the stunts. "I think we have to look very closely at whether any laws were breached, although I'm extremely reluctant to give them the attention they crave," he told ABC Radio Melbourne. "When something this vile happens I think the only response has to be utter and total condemnation." Mr Patterson's condemnation echoed that of other politicians, including state Liberal member for Kew Jess Wilson and independent member for Kooyong Monique Ryan. State Liberal MP David Southwick said: "Let me be crystal clear: this is not politics. This is hate. And it has no place in our community". Mr Southwick, who is Jewish, said the one of the flyers had been placed under the door of his office on Wednesday morning. In a statement, the Australian Federal Police said it was aware of the flyers and the incident in Kew and was working in collaboration with state police. The Australian Electoral Commission said it was reviewing the flyers to ensure they comply with authorisation rules, but was not able to make determinations about the content of electoral communications.
