Two students claim CU violated their rights after barring them from campus for protesting
The students, Max Inman and Mari Rosenfeld, were part of a peaceful demonstration supporting Palestinians during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. They claim the university retaliated against them for speaking out.
After the protest, CU Boulder kicked them off campus for almost two months, only allowing them to attend classes. The lawsuit argues this move violated their rights to express themselves.
A university rep didn’t comment right away, but the students’ attorney pointed out that universities have a history of supporting peaceful protests. He believes CU is trying to silence voices that oppose its stance on Israel.
Rosenfeld and Inman are part of a group called Students for Justice in Palestine, which has chapters across the country. They planned to protest at a job fair featuring companies linked to military actions in Gaza.
During the protest, Inman used a bullhorn to call out corporations profiting from violence. They were asked to leave but only stayed for a few minutes. The next day, the university put their group on bad standing and started disciplinary actions against them.
The lawsuit claims the university didn’t give them a chance to appeal the exclusion. It was only lifted after Thanksgiving break. The dean of students even filed a police report against them, alleging various offenses, but the local DA hasn’t pursued any charges.
Rosenfeld expressed frustration, saying CU supports arms manufacturers while silencing student voices. She believes it’s crucial for students to speak out against actions that go against their values. This lawsuit is a stand against that suppression.
