The New School’s Parsons School of Design Sued for Enabling Antisemitic Harassment and Retaliation on Campus
- nasimd
- 56 minutes ago
- 3 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2025
New York City — The Dhillon Law Group has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of Brandon White, an emerging artist and recent graduate of The New School’s Parsons School of Design. The lawsuit alleges that the university failed to protect White from physical assault, antisemitic slurs, and a campaign of harassment based on protestors’ mistaken belief that he is Jewish.
StandWithUs Saidoff Legal serves as legal consultant in the case. This lawsuit is part of the Magen Project, a joint campaign by Dhillon Law Group and the Restore the American Dream Foundation (RAD) to fight antisemitism through strategic litigation.
Filed in the Southern District of New York, the case, White v. The New School, claims the university enabled a climate of antisemitic hostility following the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas. Protest actions led by Students for Justice in Palestine, faculty, and outside activists reportedly escalated into aggression and targeted intimidation against Jewish and Israeli students—or those perceived to be.
“When someone blocks you from going to class and shoves you out of the only entrance because they assume what you believe, and the university just shrugs — it’s clear something is broken,” said White. “This lawsuit is about standing up to that kind of hate and holding the school accountable.”
White, who is neither Jewish nor Israeli, reports that he was physically assaulted on December 4, 2023. Protestors allegedly yelled slurs including “Zio,” shoved him, slammed a door on his hand, and threatened him after mistaking him for Jewish.
“This isn’t just about protest,” said Matthew Sarelson, partner at Dhillon Law Group. “This is about a university that allowed students and staff to use physical force and public smear campaigns against those they deemed ‘Zionists,’ real or perceived, and then punished the victims instead of the perpetrators. What happened to Brandon was disgraceful.”
Following the incident, protestors launched a smear campaign online. Although White promptly reported the incident, the university refused to investigate for months—ultimately initiating a retaliatory disciplinary case against White instead.
The university’s delayed investigation—during which StandWithUs Legal supported White—resulted in no action against the attackers. White’s original complaint was ultimately dismissed.
“People asked why I didn’t just walk away,” said White. “But there was only one entrance. I wasn’t looking for conflict—I just wanted to go to class.”
The lawsuit further describes how faculty supported disruptive encampments and discriminatory boycotts, contributing to a hostile climate. It cites a report by Stop Antisemitism, which gave The New School an “F” for its 2024 campus antisemitism rating. The report found:
75% of Jewish students experienced antisemitism,
95% felt unwelcome in many spaces, and
87% felt personally blamed for Israel’s actions.
“Instead of taking a stand against hate, The New School allowed a climate of fear and discrimination to fester,” said Yael Lerman, Legal Director at StandWithUs. “The kangaroo court process didn’t just fail Brandon White—it sent a message that Jewish students, and those perceived to be Jewish, are not safe or supported on campus. That is unacceptable.”
Read the complaint HERE.
Tax-deductible contributions to support this lawsuit can be made to StandWithUs at https://www.standwithus.com/donate and https://restoreamericandream.org.
About StandWithUs
StandWithUs is an international, non-partisan education organization that supports Israel and fights antisemitism. StandWithUs empowers and energizes students and communities with leadership training and educational programs on hundreds of college campuses, high schools, and middle schools. StandWithUs informs through social media, print and digital materials, films, weekly newsletters, and missions to Israel. StandWithUs takes legal action through the StandWithUs Saidoff Legal Department. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Los Angeles, the organization has chapters and offices throughout the U.S., Israel, the UK, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and Australia. Learn more at www.standwithus.com.
