Two custodians at Columbia University, Leicester Wilson and Mario Torres, have reached a $220 million settlement with the school after filing complaints about their distressing experiences during anti-Israel protests. The settlement arises from civil rights violations and allegations of racism within the university.
This agreement effectively ends their legal battle with Columbia, but they continue to pursue lawsuits against over 40 protesters who they claim held them hostage during riots at Hamilton Hall last year.
Interestingly, the settlement is not solely about them; it includes provisions addressing discrimination claims involving other employees who reported civil rights abuses. The funding for their settlement comes from a broader pool designated for addressing discrimination claims.
Despite not being Jewish, Wilson and Torres faced severe trauma during a wave of protests ignited by the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. “The university is responsible for setting the situation, and now it’s time to hold accountable those who instigated the chaos,” said Alizalewin, president of the Brandeis Centre, in a recent interview.
Both men have worked at Columbia for five years but were unable to return to their jobs due to injuries sustained during the protests. Complaints allege that during a takeover at Hamilton Hall, Wilson and Torres were targeted and verbally assaulted by rioters who singled them out because of their race.
“I’m going to take 20 guys here to mess you up,” one masked rioter reportedly told Torres. In a defensive gesture, Torres grabbed a fire extinguisher and stood his ground, stating, “I’m here.” Meanwhile, Wilson encountered violent obstacles as he tried to escape from the scene.
Ultimately, police intervention led to the arrest of over 100 individuals at the protests. Prior to these incidents, both custodians had also dealt with racist and anti-Semitic graffiti on campus, which not only upset them but was also largely ignored by the university. Wilson described the graffiti as symbols of white supremacy, which deeply affected him as an African-American man.
Despite repeated efforts to remove such symbols, they persisted, leading to increasing frustration for Torres, particularly given the university’s apparent lack of action despite possessing surveillance footage. His complaints illustrated a growing concern over the inactions of Columbia authorities, stating that aggressive behavior from the perpetrators went unaddressed while he faced criticism for trying to eliminate the hate symbols.
After reporting that masked protesters had vandalized Hamilton Hall with slogans like “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” Wilson was met with indifference from campus security, who suggested the vandalism fell under free speech protections.
The two custodians were represented by Toridon, a firm associated with former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr, during their claims against Columbia.
The university has since committed to reforming its policies regarding anti-Semitism on campus.
