A Columbia University student has sued the school over its disciplinary actions against him.
Khymani James livestreamed a school meeting in January that focused on his warnings to people who support a Jewish state in Israeli land. He claimed in the video that “Zionists don’t deserve to live,” explaining he felt “very comfortable calling for those people to die.”
James also told his social media followers to be “glad” and “grateful” that he was “not just going out murdering Zionists.”
“If we can agree as a society, as a collective, that some persons need to die if they have an ideology that results in the death of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions — if there are people like that who exist, shouldn’t they die?” he said.
Columbia later investigated the comments and notified James in a letter that it was placing him on disciplinary probation, according to the lawsuit. More than three and a half months later, the university issued him an interim suspension based on his “discriminatory remarks” about other students and participation in an encampment protest, James’ attorney said.
The attorney accused Columbia of violating James’ rights by suspending him for an issue that was already resolved, claiming the school “inflicted severe damage on his education and on his personal well-being.”
James’ disciplinary probation stemmed from his recording of the meeting with the school’s Center for Student Success and Intervention (CSSI), according to the lawsuit. The center’s policies state on its website that the meetings are “considered private.”
Columbia accused James of violating that policy and using language that “denigrates” or “shows hostility or aversion” toward people of a protected class, the student’s attorney said.
Content from The National Desk is provided by Sinclair, the parent company of FOX45 News.
