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US judge rejects Trump lawsuit against Harvard over antisemitism claims
🇨🇭 Switzerland /Crime & Justice

US judge rejects Trump lawsuit against Harvard over antisemitism claims

From Le Temps · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A U.S. federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration against Harvard University.
  • The lawsuit accused Harvard of tolerating antisemitic behavior during pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus after October 7, 2023.
  • The judge ruled that the government failed to prove Harvard violated civil rights law, deeming the alleged incidents too isolated to demonstrate a violation.

A federal judge in Boston has rejected a lawsuit brought by the Trump administration against Harvard University, which accused the institution of tolerating antisemitic conduct during pro-Palestinian protests on campus following the October 7 attacks.

The government failed to prove that Harvard violated a provision of the civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on race, nationality, and other criteria.

— Judge Richard StearnsThe judge explained the basis for dismissing the lawsuit against Harvard.

U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns ruled on Thursday that the government did not provide sufficient evidence to prove Harvard violated a provision of the Civil Rights Act prohibiting discrimination based on race, national origin, and other factors. The administration had claimed Harvard fostered an environment conducive to antisemitic and anti-Israeli behavior.

Teachers and Harvard management turned a blind eye to antisemitism and discrimination against Jews and Israelis.

— U.S. Department of JusticeThe Justice Department outlined its accusations against Harvard in the lawsuit.

Since returning to power in January 2025, Donald Trump has been critical of major American universities, alleging they permit pro-Palestinian movements that he equates with antisemitic demonstrations. The lawsuit, filed in March, specifically cited instances where Harvard allegedly allowed anti-Israel protesters to occupy libraries and maintain an encampment for 20 days, in violation of university policy.

Harvard allowed anti-Israel protesters to occupy its libraries. Harvard allowed an anti-Israel encampment to persist for 20 days in violation of university policy.

— U.S. Department of JusticeThe Justice Department detailed specific alleged violations by Harvard.

In dismissing the case, Judge Stearns found the incidents cited by the Trump administration to be "too isolated and sporadic" to establish a violation of civil rights law. This ruling follows a previous instance in September when a federal judge overturned a measure by the Trump administration to freeze billions of dollars in funding to Harvard, also based on accusations of antisemitism and liberal bias.

The incidents invoked by the Trump administration were 'too isolated and sporadic' to prove a violation of civil rights law.

— Judge Richard StearnsThe judge characterized the alleged incidents as insufficient to meet the legal threshold for a violation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Temps in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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