The University of Michigan finds itself embroiled in a legal battle as a student accuses the institution of unlawful surveillance and harassment. The allegations stem from the student’s vocal support for Palestinian rights, igniting a debate on free speech and university conduct.
Josiah Walker, a student at the university, asserts that school officials colluded with City Shield, a private security firm, to surveil him due to his advocacy for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Walker, among five students interviewed by The Guardian, claims that he was followed, recorded, and eavesdropped on by undercover operatives.
Walker, who identifies as Black and Muslim, has filed a lawsuit through the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice. He contends that the university discriminated against him based on his race, religion, and political beliefs. “Public universities ought to be places where people can be critical of foreign governments without facing undue harms to the integrity of their persons, interests, and property,” Walker stated. “The University of Michigan’s decision to mobilize public and private assets to suppress my viewpoints was dangerously irresponsible and constitutes a profound act of institutional betrayal that must be rectified.”
The lawsuit accuses the university of various retaliatory actions, including:
- Engaging in prolonged and intrusive surveillance by a private contractor.
- Detaining Walker without reasonable suspicion.
- Subjecting Walker to physical assault and excessive force.
- Seizing his personal property and religious items without due process.
- Implementing retaliatory adverse employment actions.
- Fabricating misleading police reports to justify search warrants on Walker’s communications.
The university has not commented on the lawsuit, with Paul Corliss, assistant vice president for public affairs and internal communications, declining to provide a statement.
Amy V. Doukoure, lead attorney at the Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan chapter, criticized the university’s actions, asserting, “Public universities do not get to celebrate free speech when it is convenient and then unleash police, private surveillance contractors, trespass bans, criminal charges, and employment blacklists when students advocate for Palestinian human rights.” She added, “Public universities are bound by the First and Fourteenth Amendments, not by political pressure or viewpoint preference.”
Allegations of retaliation against Walker arose following his protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza, which organizations such as a United Nations commission and Amnesty International have called genocide.
Editor’s note: The University of Michigan holds Michigan Public’s broadcast license.
