Friday, December 30, 2011

Jewish student lawsuit seeking profit by alleging atmosphere of "anti-Semitism" at U.C. Berkeley thrown out of court

From:
Anti-Semitism suit against U.C.Berkeley dismissed

(JWeekly.com) -- by staff

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against U.C. Berkeley by two Jewish students who claimed the school fostered an atmosphere of anti-Semitism.
The suit, filed in March 2011 by recent Cal graduate Jessica Felber and current undergraduate Brian Maissy, claimed that harassment by pro-Palestinian activists on campus violated their First Amendment rights to freedom of religion and speech.

The suit named U.C. President Mark Yudof, U.C. Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau and the Associated Students of the University California, charging them with allowing the situation to continue.

In dismissing the suit Dec. 22, San Francisco U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg said that even if the harassment took place, it constituted protected political speech, according to the Associated Press.

The judge also said the university did not violate the students' constitutional rights, and did not have a legal obligation to intervene in such disputes between private individuals, such as Felber's claim she was intentionally rammed by a shopping cart pushed by a pro-Palestinian activist during "Apartheid Week" events.

"The incident ... did not occur in the context of her educational pursuits," Seeborg wrote, according to the AP report.

"Rather, that event occurred when she, as one person attempting to exercise free speech rights in a public forum was allegedly attacked by another person who likewise was participating in a public protest in a public forum."

Seeborg also rejected the plaintiffs' claim that U.C. officials were deliberately indifferent, noting the administration "has engaged in an ongoing dialogue with the opposing parties in an attempt to ensure that the rights of all persons are respected, and to minimize the potential for violence."...MORE...LINK

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

What happened to going to school for an education? This whole issue is stupid from both sides. However, I have to admit that I enjoy seeing the tradition of activism among Jews coming back to bite them! No sympathy here, even if the claims are true.