Federal Court Dismisses Civil Rights Conspiracy Claims Against Pro-Palestine Activists, The People’s Forum
In an important victory for free speech, a federal court has dismissed with prejudice all civil rights conspiracy claims brought against The People's Forum and other individual defendants arising from the April 2024 occupation of Hamilton Hall — Hind’s Hall — at Columbia University. The ruling is a vindication of the right of The People’s Forum (TPF) and others to engage in political speech condemning U.S.-backed Israeli war crimes and genocide, and to call for support of encamped student activists demanding divestment. The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund (PCJF) represented The People's Forum in the litigation.