Pro-Palestinian Students, CAIR Sue Northwestern Over Mandatory Antisemitism Training Alleging Speech Discrimination

A pro-Palestinian student group, Northwestern Graduate Workers for Palestine, has filed a federal lawsuit against Northwestern University, alleging that the school's mandatory antisemitism training is discriminatory and violates the free speech rights of Arab and Palestinian students. The training, which includes a video produced in collaboration with the Jewish United Fund, is criticized for broadly defining antisemitism in a way that conflates criticism of Israeli policies with anti-Jewish discrimination, thereby silencing Palestinian identity and political expression on campus. The lawsuit, supported by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), claims the university's policy bars students from discussing their national aspirations and protests against mistreatment, and enforces disciplinary measures against those who refuse the training. The plaintiffs argue the training causes emotional distress and violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by discriminating based on race, color, or national origin. Northwestern requires completion of this training for course registration, linking it to the school's code of conduct that incorporates the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism. A hearing on a Temporary Restraining Order related to the lawsuit was scheduled, drawing attention from various advocacy groups and university community members.