The US Education Department has settled a discrimination complaint against Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, following concerns over bias against Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian students.
Emory University will update its non-discrimination policies, including those on protests and harassment, to explicitly cover harassment based on actual or perceived shared ancestry. The university also plans to implement training programs, conduct surveys, and assess its handling of 2024 campus protests against U.S. support for Israel’s war in Gaza. While maintaining that no wrongdoing was found, Emory voluntarily signed the resolution agreement to enhance its anti-discrimination policies, according to the Education Department.
The settlement comes amid a surge in reports of anti-Palestinian, Islamophobic, and antisemitic incidents following Israel’s military assault on Gaza, which began after Hamas’ deadly attack on October 7, 2023. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits racial discrimination in U.S. education programmes receiving federal funding.
In 2024, US universities saw prolonged protests demanding an end to US military aid to Israel and divestment from companies accused of supporting Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
In April, Emory University faced criticism after law enforcement, at administrators’ request, used Tasers and tear gas on student protesters, activists said. The Education Department expressed concern over the “gratuitous violence” seen in widely circulated videos, suggesting it may have created a “hostile environment” for Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students.
This settlement is among several the US government has reached with institutions and companies since the Gaza war began, with universities like Johns Hopkins and the University of California signing similar agreements. Separately, on February 1, the Justice Department settled with DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando at SeaWorld over alleged discrimination against Arab guests.
The Emory resolution underscores increased federal oversight to ensure universities and businesses uphold civil rights protections amid rising tensions over the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Photo: Candler Library, Emory University (Credit: WikiCommons)
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