Detroit, Michigan — A group of former University of Michigan employees has filed a lawsuit against the institution, claiming that their terminations were a direct result of their participation in pro-Palestinian protests on campus. The legal action was initiated in U.S. District Court in Detroit by the Sugar Law Center and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
The plaintiffs assert that the university’s management violated their constitutional rights to free speech, assembly, and petition. The university has stated that the dismissals were due to breaches of its policies concerning community violence, despite the lawsuit contending that none of the affected individuals engaged in violent behavior or disobeyed police directives during the protests.
Historically, civic engagement has been a significant aspect of the University of Michigan’s culture, with students advocating for various causes, including the anti-Vietnam War movement. However, the lawsuit claims that the institution’s response to recent protests, particularly those advocating for divestment from companies associated with Israel, has shifted dramatically following the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The lawsuit alleges that since that date, the university has specifically targeted and penalized individuals participating in protests related to Palestine, claiming these actions are a means to address alleged human rights violations by Israel. The plaintiffs maintain that seeking divestment is a legitimate avenue for protest, pointing to the university’s historical decisions to divest from tobacco companies, South Africa during apartheid, and Russia in 2022 as precedents for such actions.
Responding to inquiries about the lawsuit, a university spokesperson stated that the institution does not comment on ongoing litigation. Central to the allegations are protests that took place on November 17, 2023, and May 3, 2024, with demonstrators organizing a sit-in outside the university president’s office and another outside the University of Michigan Museum of Art, respectively.
The May protest was particularly notable as it coincided with a closed event attended by university regents. Protesters linked arms and chanted, continuing their demonstration even as campus police established a barrier around the museum’s entrance. Following this event, several individuals received notifications of their terminations along with permanent ineligibility for future employment, citing violations of the university’s community violence policy as justification.
The lawsuit reveals that four of those dismissed were not even employees at the time of the protests and underscores that all involved protests occurred during their personal time. Notably, one former student, Zaynab Elkolaly, allegedly faced physical confrontation with a university police officer during the November protest, resulting in her hijab being torn off when she was pushed to the ground.
After graduating and seeking future employment with the university, Elkolaly received a letter stating she was ineligible for rehire because of the university’s policies against violence. The plaintiffs argue that each individual was a dedicated university worker who performed essential services, and their due process was disregarded in the university’s retaliatory actions.
The lawsuit seeks to compel the University of Michigan to reverse the actions taken against the former employees and provide compensation for their job losses, along with any additional relief deemed appropriate.
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