Columbia University agreed to pay two janitorial employees a settlement after they were assaulted and held hostage by anti‑Israel protesters inside Hamilton Hall during a riot in April 2024. The incident involved threats, antisemitic slurs, and forced removal of swastikas from campus facilities. Their complaints contributed to a broader justice settlement.
The janitors, Lester Wilson and Mario Torres, filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). They reported being trapped by a coordinated mob, physically assaulted, and subjected to antisemitic language—even though neither is Jewish. The mob allegedly forced them to clean swastikas while ignoring calls for help from campus security.
Their EEOC complaints triggered a federal civil rights investigation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, prompting institutional scrutiny and legal pressure. As part of a sweeping settlement with the Trump administration, Columbia agreed to restore most of its previously suspended federal funding by paying $200 million over upcoming years. An additional $21 million was earmarked to compensate employees—including Jewish faculty, staff, and the two janitors—who alleged civil rights violations.
Wilson and Torres reached a separate payout from the employee fund. Though terms were undisclosed, the settlement followed mounting legal pressure and contributed to Columbia’s overall $220 million civil rights package. Neither has returned to work due to sustained physical and emotional trauma. They continue legal action against more than 40 individuals alleged to have led or participated in the protest.
