Pitt accuses anti-Zionist student group of mishandling evidence
Students for Justice in Palestine seeks to have 6-month suspension lifted immediately
The University of Pittsburgh has asked a federal judge to levy sanctions against Students for Justice in Palestine at Pitt “for failure to preserve evidence.”
The motion was filed this week in a case SJP brought against Pitt and some of its administrators in April. SJP alleges that Pitt violated its First Amendment rights by imposing a six-month suspension on the group. Pitt argues the suspension was warranted, as SJP improperly attempted to influence a disciplinary committee while it was deliberating on whether an SJP-sponsored event on Feb. 4 at Hillman Library violated university policies.
The suspension is set to expire on Sept. 18.
SJP, which is represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, is seeking a preliminary injunction to lift the suspension immediately so it is able to recruit new students during “Welcome Week.”
In its motion for sanctions, the university alleges that “Acting in bad faith, SJP has intentionally failed to preserve evidence that this Court has concluded is highly relevant to SJP’s request for a preliminary injunction and which is likewise highly relevant to SJP’s broader claims at issue in this litigation.”
Pitt further alleges that SJP’s failure to preserve evidence has “unfairly prejudiced” the defendants’ ability to defend this case. As a remedy and to “deter future such conduct,” Pitt asks the court to deny SJP’s request for a preliminary injunction and to dismiss its claims.
The university’s brief in support of its motion, and accompanying exhibits, were filed under seal and are not available to the public.
SJP’s response to the university’s motion must be filed by Aug. 26.
SJP has been a registered student organization at Pitt since at least 2009. It has hosted and participated in numerous anti-Israel and anti-Zionist events since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack in Israel. On Instagram, SJP has reposted several unsubstantiated claims against the Jewish state, including that “Israel beheaded a child and burned displaced Palestinians alive in their tent.” The group has accused Israel of committing “genocide” and has called for both Pitt and Carnegie Mellon University to divest from Israel, while leading anti-Zionist chants at various protests and rallies.
SJP also promoted a protest of the JCC Maccabi Campus Games earlier this month. PJC
Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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