Joel Goldenberg – The Suburban LJI Reporter

Jewish students and a teacher filed a $15 million class action suit against Concordia University, for not doing enough for more than 20 years to counter antisemitism.

They are asking for $10 million in general damages, and $5 million in punitive damages. A judge will have to approve moving the case forward to a hearing.

The claimants have asked the media not to reveal their identity for fear of reprisal, especially in the current atmosphere of the Israel-Hamas war that has prompted numerous antisemitic incidents in Montreal, including Jewish students being attacked by pro-Hamas individuals, Jewish schools being fired upon and Molotov cocktails thrown at Beth Tikvah Synagogue and Federation CJA’s West Island headquarters in Dollard des Ormeaux.

The class action claims stretch back to 2002, the year a planned appearance by now-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sparked a riot, assaults and damage to the Hall building downtown. At that time, this reporter was told by an anti-Israel individual to “go back where you came from.” The speech never took place, only press conferences before and after the riot.

The suit, obtained by Le Journal de Montréal, cites other incidents at the university, including the attacks by the pro-Hamas students on Nov. 8.

The suit claims negligence on the part of Concordia, alleging it did not investigate the cases, discipline wrongdoers, train university staff to handle them, and offer a safe space to study.

The claimants also say the incidents over the years have prompted them to have nightmares, a fear of certain public places and of practising their religion. n