ATLANTA — A Title VI complaint has been filed against Emory University on behalf of Emory Students for Justice in Palestine. The 18-page document was filed on April 5; Georgia's Council for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said they were notified this week that the U.S. Department of Education would be investigating the claims.
The complaint points to over 20 instances where students allege Emory fostered a "hostile environment" towards students and with Palestinian, Muslim, and Arabic heritage, detailing specific names and dates dating back to 2023.
In the document, students claim they were harassed both on campus and online by faculty, alumni, students, and even parents.
During one instance, the complaint states a student leaving a Muslim Student Association meeting was following by a group of males who discussed how much they "loved the Israeli Army and the work they have done and are doing." The student claimed the group was referring to the number of Palestinians that the army had killed in those comments. She also claimed that she filed a complaint with the University's Bias System, but that administration didn't follow up until a month after the incident.
RELATED: Georgia organization claims harassment at Emory University against Palestinian, Muslim students
An Emory spokesperson confirmed that the school had been contacted by the U.S. Department of Education regarding the complaint, but they were "unable to discuss an open investigation."
The investigation into the school comes just days after a protests turned violent on Emory's campus resulting in 28 arrests including both faculty, students, and non-students.
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Pro-Palestinian/Stop Cop City protest on Emory University campus
Emory student, Daniella Hobbs said anti-Muslim discrimination has been occurring on campus for some time now, and believes last Thursday only brought the issue to the attention of the county.
“We’ve known all along who Emory is and I think that morning exposed it to the greater public," Hobbs said.
Following Thursday's protest, students -- including Hobbs -- occupied the Candler School of Theology building on campus saying they were doing so to specifically create a safe space for Palestinian students.
"The suppression of Muslim students especially and Black and brown students on this campus more generally is a very big serious issue," said Hobbs.
As Emory remains under fire, both students and faculty are participating in a no-confidence vote over how Emory's president Gregory L. Fenves handled last week's protest. Officials have not released the results of the faculty vote yet.
Throughout Thursday, protestors gathered for prayer circles saying they were using the day to re-group and reset following a week of unrest. In the afternoon hours, a group participated in a sit-in outside the Candler School of Theology. Students said they were sitting for each person killed so far during the Israel-Hamas War.