Kimmara Sumrall v. Janine Ali

Kimmara Sumrall, a member of Betar, a group that openly endorses violence against Palestinians and those who advocate for them, accused Janine Ali, a 73-year-old Palestinian-American 73-year-old grandmother of 11, of battery.  According to Ms. Sumrall, Ms. Ali was attending a CodePink vigil for Palestinian children killed by Israel in front of the Dirksen Senate building, and pulled on Ms. Sumrall’s Israeli flag cape.  At a criminal trial, Ms. Ali was acquitted.  The judge explained that the testimonies of Ms. Sumrall and her police officer witness contained inconsistencies, while Ms. Ali was credible.

Refusing to give up, Ms. Sumrall then filed a Complaint in federal court alleging anti-Semitic discrimination under civil rights law.  Shockingly, the district court granted her motion for a preliminary injunction in August, finding that Ms. Sumrall was likely to prevail on the merits of her claim.

Ms. Ali continues to fight this unjust determination in a motion to reconsider, a motion to dismiss, and if necessary will appeal to the District of Columbia Circuit.  The civil rights law under which Ms. Sumrall sued does not allow a private individual to be sued for an alleged act of hostility towards a nation—especially a nation committing genocide and other war crimes.