A class-action lawsuit has been filed against McMaster University and its student union on behalf of Jewish students and alumni. The lawsuit is in response to alleged psychological turmoil suffered by Jewish students at the university. The turmoil reportedly occurred as a result of faculty members praising attacks in Israel and exposure to antisemitic rhetoric during campus rallies. The Lawfare Project, an organization that uses legal action to protect the civil and human rights of Jewish people, initiated the lawsuit, which is valued at $77 million and was filed in collaboration with Diamond and Diamond Lawyers.
The allegations also include a teaching assistant supporting the public display of a swastika outside Canada’s Parliament Hill and the decision to relocate a vigil by Jewish student groups due to safety concerns. The student union is accused of supporting The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement in 2015 as well as its on-campus operations.
Sandra Zisckind, managing partner of Diamond and Diamond Lawyers, stated that the behavior that encourages hatred, violence, discrimination, or interferes with the educational atmosphere constitutes a breach in the university’s responsibility. McMaster University issued a statement condemning all forms of hatred and expressed its commitment to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all community members.
The lawsuit is seeking compensation and remedies for the ongoing and historical discrimination, harassment, and physical abuse endured by Jewish students at McMaster. The Lawfare Project emphasized that the lawsuit aims to guarantee a safe, supportive, and tolerant educational setting for all students, irrespective of race, religion, or ethnicity. Similar complaints against anti-Semitic activities in Canadian universities include a lawsuit against York University and its student union, which also seeks compensation for failure to address anti-Semitic incidents.
Additional lawsuits were filed against three other universities in Canada, aiming to address anti-Semitic activities on their campuses. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) launched a national appeal to find plaintiffs willing to participate in civil court actions against anti-Jewish activities at Canadian universities. In response to the increase in anti-Semitism following the October 7 attacks, CIJA started a “Legal Rapid Response Team” to address “Jew-hatred” in schools and universities, offering pro-bono representation to plaintiffs.