University of Michigan DEI administrator fired over alleged antisemitic comments plans to take legal action, attorney says

An administrator with the diversity, equity and inclusion office at the University of Michigan was fired Tuesday after she was accused of making antisemitic remarks – and now she plans to pursue legal action against the school, her attorney said.

An administrator with the diversity, equity and inclusion office at the University of Michigan was fired Tuesday after she was accused of making antisemitic remarks – and now she plans to pursue legal action against the school, her attorney said. Rachel Dawson, who served as director of the university’s Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives, was accused of saying, “The university is controlled by wealthy Jews” during a conversation with two professors at an academic conference on diversity and equity in late March, according to documents obtained by CNN. Dawson was also accused of saying, “We don’t work with Jews. They are wealthy and privileged and take care of themselves” and that “Jewish people have ‘no genetic DNA’ that would connect them to the land of Israel,” according to the documents. Dawson’s lawyer Amanda Ghannam denied that she made those statements or any antisemitic comments. Before she was fired this week, Dawson had received a written warning on October 15, and was placed on leave a little over two weeks later when the warning was revoked, Ghannam told CNN Thursday. Ghannam said she will take “appropriate legal action” for what she alleges is a violation of Dawson’s constitutional rights as a public employee. “The law is extremely clear that public employees are protected by their First Amendment rights,” Ghannam said. A university spokeswoman declined to confirm on Thursday whether Dawson had been fired, saying that the university would not comment on personnel matters, the New York Times reported. CNN has reached out to the University of Michigan for comment.