After being berated in a racist "troll storm" triggered by the neo-Nazi website The Daily Stormer, Taylor Dumpson, former American University student and the school's first Black female student body president, is receiving $725,000 in damages.
A judge ruled in Dumpson's favor after finding that Andrew Anglin, the publisher of The Daily Stormer, targeted her based on her race and gender, according to The New York Times.
In May 2017, Dumpson, who was sworn in as American University's student body president, making her the first Black woman to hold the role in the school's history, was taunted by racist symbols throughout campus. Bananas hanging on nooses with messages like "HARAMBE BAIT" were on display around American University. Anglin also released Dumpson's personal information online and incited his followers to harass her.
Dumpson subsequently feared for her safety while completing her degree at American and developed post-traumatic stress disorder. She is now enrolled in law school, according to one of her lawyers.
"Too often hate crime victims don't get justice, but that didn't happen here," Kristen Clarke, Dumpson's lawyer said. "This ruling is historic in that it marks the first time that a court has deemed racist online trolling activity that can interfere with one's equal access to a public accommodation."
Two other judgments were also filed against Anglin for instances of online anti-Semitic harassment and intimidation against real estate agent Tanya Gersh, as well as falsely accusing comedian Dean Obeidallah of being a terrorist.
Dumpson originally requested $1.8 million reports NBC Washington.