Mcmaster University sued for $77 million
A $77-million class-action lawsuit has been brought against Mcmaster University and the Mcmaster Students Union on behalf of Jewish students at the school in Hamilton, Ont.
The lawsuit alleges Jewish students have faced increased difficulties because of a rise in antisemitic rhetoric on campus since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel.
The lawsuit cites a vigil organized by Jewish student groups that had to be moved to a secret location for safety reasons, as well as a Mcmaster teaching assistant who allegedly supported the public display of a swastika outside Parliament Hill, as examples.
“Behaviour that encourages hatred, violence, discrimination or interferes with the educational atmosphere, as stated in the ‘Code of Students Rights and Responsibilities,’ reflects a breach in the University’s responsibility,” said Sandra Zisckind, managing partner of Diamond and Diamond Lawyers, which filed the class action. “Section 319 of the Criminal Code categorizes the public incitement of hatred, the deliberate promotion of hatred, and the intentional promotion of antisemitism as criminal offences.”
The plaintiffs encompass all Jewish students currently enrolled at Mcmaster University and those who have graduated within the past two years, according to the firm.
The lawsuit claims that the university’s Students Union has supported the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement since 2015 and maintains its backing for the movement’s activities on campus.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has described the BDS movement as “antisemitic and contrary to Canadian values.”
The lawsuit is in partnership with The Lawfare Project, an organization dedicated to protecting the civil and human rights of Jewish people through legal action.
“Unfortunately, the hatred toward the Jewish community, which dramatically increased after Oct. 7, continues to be prevalent on college and university campuses, including Mcmaster,” said Brooke Goldstein, founder and executive director of LP. “This lawsuit seeks to establish and enforce effective, and enduring measures to guarantee a safe, supportive and tolerant educational setting for all students, irrespective of their race, religion, or ethnicity.”
The lawsuit is in addition to a $15-million class-action lawsuit Diamond and Diamond filed against York University in Toronto last October.
Representing current students, recent alumni and attendees from 1998-2021, that lawsuit similarly targets both York University and the York Federation of Students. It alleges that the plaintiffs have been threatened with physical violence and forced to hide their Jewish identity.
In an emailed statement to the National Post, Wade Hemsworth, a spokesman for Mcmaster University, said the school has not yet been served the claim.