Two Columbia University janitors who claimed they were held hostage by anti-Israel protesters during a campus riot last year have settled their complaint with the university for an undisclosed amount. The resolution comes as the school settles a $220 million case with the Trump administration over alleged civil rights violations, which included $200 million for discrimination claims and $20 million for employees affected by civil rights issues. The janitors, Lester Wilson and Mario Torres, filed an EEOC complaint that initiated a civil rights investigation into the university.
Although they have reached a settlement with the university, the two men are still moving forward with a lawsuit against 40 protesters they allege held them hostage inside the Hamilton Hall building. According to the lawsuit, they were assaulted by protesters who stormed the campus building on April 29, 2024, and were forcibly detained until the early hours of April 30th. The protesters allegedly