MAJOR VICTORY: New York Law School Orders Removal of Antisemitic Social Media Posts Following ACLJ Representation

In a significant victory for Jewish students facing antisemitism on university campuses, New York Law School has concluded its investigation into a formal complaint filed by a Jewish student whom the ACLJ represented. The investigation resulted in the school officially validating that social media posts by anti-Israel student organizations were “objectively offensive to a reasonable Jewish and/or Israeli law student” and ordering their mandatory removal with the threat of serious organizational sanctions.

The Complaint

Following the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, our client filed a formal complaint alleging that social media posts on the Instagram accounts of New York Law School student groups – the Muslim Law Student Association (MLSA) and Middle Eastern North African Association (MENA) – were antisemitic and created a hostile environment at the law school. The ACLJ represented her throughout the investigation process, ensuring her voice was heard and her rights were protected under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

New York Law School retained the law firm Venable LLP to conduct a thorough, independent investigation. The investigation included interviews with students and administrators, a review of relevant evidence, including the social media posts at issue, and an analysis of federal and state law, including Office for Civil Rights (OCR) guidance on Title VI obligations. We commend Venable for the serious and sensitive manner in which this investigation was conducted, which stands in contrast to many similar cases where complaints are dismissed or minimized.

Take action with us and add your voice to the petition: End Discrimination: Protect Jewish Students on Campus.

The Victory: Official Validation and Mandatory Action

The investigation reached a critical finding: The social media posts our client raised were “objectively offensive to a reasonable Jewish and/or Israeli law student.” The investigators determined objectively that a reasonable Jewish or Israeli student would find these posts offensive. The school went even further, officially recognizing the posts as “offensive and inconsistent with community standards.” This institutional acknowledgment that Jewish students’ concerns about antisemitic content are legitimate and justified represents a major victory in itself.

Most significantly, New York Law School is taking concrete action by issuing formal notices to MLSA and MENA requiring them to remove certain posts from their Instagram accounts. This is not a request or a suggestion. It is a direct order. The school specifically determined that if these posts remain in the Instagram highlights reel, “they could contribute to a future hostile environment that may violate Title VI.” The posts also violated the Student Organizations Communications Policy by failing to include required disclaimers indicating they did not represent the views of New York Law School. This policy violation provides the school with clear grounds to enforce removal.

Real Consequences: Suspension or Revocation of Organizational Charters

The school made absolutely clear that this is an enforceable order with serious consequences. The investigation letter explicitly states that “failure to comply with applicable NYLS [New York Law School] policies may result in appropriate penalties, up to and including suspension or revocation of a student organization’s charter or privileges and/or discipline of individual students.” This means that if MLSA or MENA refuse to remove the offensive posts, they could lose their status as recognized student organizations. Individual student leaders could also face discipline. This is not a symbolic action. This is real, enforceable accountability backed by institutional power.

What makes this victory particularly significant is that it resulted in mandatory, enforceable action rather than vague institutional promises. Too often, investigations into campus antisemitism conclude with schools issuing general statements about “commitment to diversity” or promises of future training, while the offensive conduct continues unchecked. Here, the school is requiring specific posts to be removed and threatening organizational sanctions for non-compliance. This is the kind of concrete, measurable action that actually changes campus climate.

That being said, the offensive posts remained online for two years before the school ordered their removal, and it is troubling that this action came only after many of the students most directly involved had graduated. The hostile environment she experienced resulted from multiple factors creating an atmosphere where Jewish students felt unsafe. The campus situation has improved considerably since the complaint was filed, but continued institutional accountability and ongoing monitoring are essential to ensure that progress is sustained.

For much of her time as a student, our client felt that no one would listen to her concerns or complaints. No Jewish student should have to feel that way or even be put in a position where they need to be concerned at all. It is crucial to ensure that the school's commitments translate into sustained action. We recognize that investigations, even thorough ones, operate within legal frameworks that may not capture the full reality of students' experiences. Moving forward, institutional responses should be timely rather than delayed until key actors have left campus.

Setting a Precedent

This decision establishes an important precedent for how schools can address antisemitic social media content by student organizations. By validating that posts can be simultaneously protected speech and policy violations warranting removal, New York Law School has taken an action that other institutions can follow. Schools don’t have to throw up their hands and claim they’re powerless to act. They can enforce their organizational policies and require the removal of content that violates those policies, even when the content itself may be protected expression.

Our client’s courage in filing a formal complaint, backed by ACLJ’s legal representation, demonstrates that Jewish students facing antisemitism on campus can fight back and win. Her willingness to stand up for herself and other Jewish students led to a major institution reacting and reflecting seriously, and it has resulted in tangible changes that will benefit the entire law school community. This victory sends a message to Jewish students nationwide: You don’t have to suffer antisemitism in silence. Formal complaints with proper legal representation can produce real results.

The Broader Context: Campus Antisemitism Crisis

Since October 7, 2023, Jewish students across America have faced an unprecedented surge in antisemitic incidents on college campuses. From Columbia to UCLA, from MIT to the University of Michigan, Jewish students have been harassed, intimidated, excluded from campus spaces, and subjected to hostile environments. Pro-Hamas demonstrations, encampments blocking access to classes, social media posts glorifying terrorism, and outright discrimination have made many campuses unsafe for Jewish students.

The ACLJ has been at the forefront of fighting this scourge. We have represented Jewish students filing complaints, submitted Title VI complaints to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, and demanded that educational institutions fulfill their legal obligations to maintain campus environments free from discrimination and harassment based on national origin or ancestry. This victory at New York Law School demonstrates that when institutions take complaints seriously, conduct thorough investigations, and take concrete, enforceable action, real progress is possible.

What This Victory Means for Other Students

This outcome should encourage Jewish students at other institutions who are facing similar situations. If your campus has student organizations posting antisemitic content on social media, you have options. Many schools have policies similar to New York Law School’s requirement that student organization posts include disclaimers. Many schools have broader policies against harassment and discrimination. By filing formal complaints and demanding enforcement of these policies, you can push your institution to take action.

Legal representation matters. The ACLJ’s involvement in this case ensured that our client’s complaint was taken seriously and that the investigation was conducted thoroughly. If you’re considering filing a complaint at your institution, having experienced legal counsel can make a significant difference in the outcome. We encourage students facing antisemitism to reach out for help rather than trying to navigate complex administrative processes alone.

While we celebrate this important victory for our client, the ACLJ’s work fighting campus antisemitism continues. We remain committed to representing Jewish students facing discrimination and harassment, filing Title VI complaints with federal authorities, demanding institutional accountability, advocating for clear policies and swift enforcement, and supporting students who courageously speak out against antisemitism on their campuses. Join the ACLJ in these efforts and add your name to the petition: End Discrimination: Protect Jewish Students on Campus.

If you are a Jewish student facing antisemitism on your campus, whether through social media posts, harassment, exclusion, or hostile demonstrations, know that you are not alone. The ACLJ stands ready to fight for your rights. We have the experience, the legal expertise, and the commitment to help you hold your institution accountable for maintaining a safe educational environment free from discrimination.