Two janitors at Columbia University have filed a lawsuit accusing more than 40 individuals of a violent and unlawful seizure of one of the campus buildings they worked in. Filed in the Southern District of New York, the lawsuit by custodians Mariano Torres and Lester Wilson claims they were inside Hamilton Hall on April 29, 2024, when what the suit describes as a “highly coordinated mob” forcibly entered the building.
According to the complaint, the demonstrators—referred to as “occupiers”—“terrorized the two men into the early morning of April 30th, assaulted and battered them, held them against their will.”
The lawsuit further asserts that the group acted according to an “underground manual,” which allegedly detailed ways to “take illegal action with impunity.” During an attempt to protect the premises, the janitors say they were met with slurs including “Jew-lovers,” “Jew-worker,” and “Zionist.” Protesters reportedly renamed the site “Hinds Hall” during the occupation.
Fox News reports that although the lawsuit does not name any organizations as defendants, it links several groups—including National Students for Justice in Palestine, AJP Educational Foundation, Inc., Faculty for Justice in Palestine Network, WESPAC Foundation, and People’s City Council—to the planning of antisemitic demonstrations on campus.
“These co-conspirators produced and distributed hand-drawn maps and diagrams of Hamilton Hall plus other indicia of a sophisticated and coordinated assault on Hamilton Hall, including but not limited to food and supplies for barricading the building and sustaining the dozens of Occupiers who would storm and occupy the building,” the filing reads.
Before the building was overtaken, the lawsuit alleges that participants planned to “intimidate, harass, bribe, threaten, and/or assault and batter such employees” who might interfere with their strategy.
As part of that preparation, the suit claims the demonstrators collected detailed schematics of the hall, marking locations of utilities like fire extinguishers and water fountains, as well as structural elements that could be used to barricade the space, such as podium toppers and benches. It also notes that those involved were instructed to wear dark clothing and cover their faces.
One of the named defendants, 41-year-old James Carlson, is accused of pushing Torres and issuing threats. The lawsuit alleges Carlson said, “I’m going to get twenty guys up here to f— you up.” Torres reportedly replied, “I’ll be right here,” as Carlson retreated.
Carlson’s attorney, Robert Gottlieb, denied the allegations in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“The claims against Mr. Carlson are patently false and defamatory. Mr. Carlson is Jewish Armenian and vehemently opposes genocide targeting any people. He never uttered antisemitic slurs to the plaintiffs, physically struck or threatened them at any time. The protesters in the photos included in the complaint are not Mr. Carlson and we will prove that,” Gottlieb stated.
The janitors allege they suffered both physical injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the incident, and have not returned to work since.
Next time surround the place and take them all into custody. No more questions about who was there or not.