Nine victims of the Oct. 7 attacks have filed a lawsuit against the National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and its parent body American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), alleging that the groups provide assistance to Hamas and spread antisemitic propaganda. SJP, with chapters in 250 campuses in the US and Canada, has been involved in funding student protests across the country that have been engulfed in controversy since the Oct. 7 attacks.
Leaders of SJP chapters have faced arrest and suspension from universities, with some inviting members of designated Palestinian terror groups to speak at events. Pro-terror protesters have been accused of various antisemitic activities on campuses, sparking investigations into their actions. The victims of the Oct. 7 attacks, seven of whom are US citizens, are accusing SJP and AMP of contributing to ongoing trauma by spreading anti-Israel and pro-terror messages.
The lawsuit, filed in US District Court in Virginia, alleges that AMP and SJP are perpetuating Hamas’s acts of international terrorism in the US by providing assistance and support. The groups released a “toolkit” to student groups to justify the terrorism of Hamas following attacks in Israel. Among the plaintiffs in the lawsuit are individuals who survived the Oct. 7 attacks, witnessing horrific scenes of violence and terror, leading to ongoing trauma. The victims are seeking unspecified damages and are calling for the groups to be held accountable for their actions.
AMP has come under scrutiny for its involvement in providing funding to campus groups like SJP, with allegations of support for Hamas leading to investigations by state attorneys general. The group has denied the allegations, calling them defamatory smears. However, their attorney has acknowledged providing financial support to SJP chapters for various expenses. The CEO of AMP, Hatem Bazian, has been accused of riling up anti-Israel sentiments on campuses and leading chants of “Free Palestine.”
A recent report has accused SJP of being a front for open antisemitism, with the group regularly receiving funding from various US-based non-profits, including AMP. SJP’s mission statement calls for taking control of universities until Palestine is free, leading to actions like tent encampments at Columbia University. The groups also receive funding through fiscal sponsors, including the WESPAC Foundation and Tides Foundation, raising questions about their financial activities and support networks.
Members of AMP’s board have made campaign contributions to Democratic politicians, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and members of her progressive “Squad.” The lawsuit filed by the victims of the Oct. 7 attacks seeks to expose and stop the work of SJP and AMP in supporting Hamas and spreading antisemitic messages on college campuses. The legal action could have significant implications for the future activities of these groups and their impact on students and communities.
