A pupil who filmed himself storming right into a New York school administrator’s workplace and tearing down two pro-Israel banners is suing the college – and claiming the official “violently” attacked him.
Buy Faculty administrator Paul Nicholson allegedly attacked sophomore Cesar Paul who went into his workplace and tore down a pair of banners that stated “We Stand with Israel” on Dec. 12, 2023 as a result of they made classmates really feel threatened and marginalized, the coed stated within the lawsuit.
However after he took down the items, Nicholson — an ombudsman who runs two different applications on the Westchester County college within the SUNY system — allegedly went after the younger man.
“Paul was violently attacked, grabbed by his shoulders, and pushed to the bottom by Nicholson,” the lawsuit stated. “Paul didn’t retaliate with bodily power of any sort. He selected to not battle again.
“As Paul tried to rise up, he started calling for assist, as he was petrified of what Nicholson may do subsequent,” the swimsuit continued. “Nicholson then forcefully grabbed Paul, aggressively pushing him out of his workplace.”
The 2 then acquired right into a tug-of-war over the banners, which Paul finally launched as one other pupil stepped in and separated the pair, the lawsuit stated.
Video of the incident apparently recorded by Paul and posted to YouTube captured the encounter, which started with the sophomore strolling into Nicholson’s workplace.
“Oh, you’re right here to see me?” Nicholson requested.
“Yea, I’m,” Paul responded.
“What can I do for you?” Nicholson stated.
“I’m gonna take these down,” Paul stated as he grabbed the banners.
“No, you’re not,” Nicholson responded. “Get the f–ok out of right here! Don’t contact my s–t! You don’t are available in and steal my s–t!”
“What the f–ok man!” Paul whined through the chaotic encounter. “Free Palestine, bro!”
“Get out of right here!” Nicholson yelled, as the 2 fought for the banners in a rumble that spilled into the hallway.
One other pupil calmed Paul down, telling him to “chill” and that Nicholson isn’t racist.
“This isn’t the way you do it,” the opposite pupil tells him. “Let it go, sit. Chill, bro.”
Each the administration and campus police despatched round emails concerning the ordeal that framed it as an antisemitic incident, the swimsuit stated.
Paul was later suspended from the college for 4 months and placed on probation via Might 2025, it added.
The scholar claims the suspension and subsequent punishments have been “not in due proportion to the character and seriousness of the offense,” and solely levelled in opposition to him in retaliation for Paul’s criticism of Israel and help of the Palestinian individuals.
“Paul didn’t bodily hurt, threaten, harass, intimidate, abuse, coerce or detain Nicholson at any second, nor did he ever intend to take action,” the swimsuit stated. “His sole intent was to take away the banners that posed a risk to pupil security.”
Within the lawsuit, Paul additionally took difficulty with the way in which his disciplinary listening to was dealt with, amongst different issues.
The sophomore desires the courts to reverse the college’s sanctions and pay for the price of the lawsuit.
Neither Nicholson nor a Buy Faculty spokesperson instantly responded to a request for remark.
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