The Trump administration has taken legal action against the University of California system, filing a lawsuit that accuses UCLA of cultivating an environment hostile to Jewish and Israeli faculty and staff. The Department of Justice lodged this lawsuit in Los Angeles on Tuesday, marking a significant step in the Trump administration’s ongoing campaign to address antisemitism, particularly in the wake of widespread campus demonstrations triggered by the October 2023 attacks on Israel led by Hamas.
In a statement, Attorney General Pamela Bondi expressed the gravity of the allegations, stating, “Based on our investigation, UCLA administrators allegedly allowed virulent antisemitism to flourish on campus, harming students and staff alike. Today’s lawsuit underscores that this Department of Justice stands strong against hate and antisemitism in all its vile forms.”
The lawsuit focuses on claims that UCLA breached Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which is designed to prevent employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. This legal move underscores the administration’s commitment to fighting discrimination and ensuring a safe environment for all employees.
The Department of Justice’s complaint highlights several alleged failures by UCLA to address and prevent discriminatory behavior on campus. The accusations include instances of unlawful encampments, physical assaults, and the use of antisemitic rhetoric—all of which reportedly disrupted the campus’s operations and threatened the safety of those affected.
Amidst the controversy, a photograph captures an anti-Israel protestor waving a Palestinian flag during a demonstration at UCLA on May 23, 2024, illustrating the charged atmosphere on campus. (Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images)
The text cites numerous instances in which the campus allegedly failed to prevent and address discriminatory and harassing conduct, including unlawful encampments, physical assaults, and the use of antisemitic tropes that disrupted campus operations and safety.
“In 2024, the University allowed antisemitic harassment to continue unabated for days in front of its iconic Royce Hall,” the DOJ said. “Jews were not permitted on portions of the main quad, Jewish professors were assaulted, and swastikas were graffitied on University buildings.”
“The University has ignored, and continues to ignore, gross and repeated violations of viewpoint-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions involving these and other actions directed against Jewish and Israeli employees,” the department added.
Last summer, UCLA agreed to pay $6 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that protesters created a “Jew Exclusion Zone,” a reported segregation area that blocked Jews from accessing the heart of campus.
Royce Hall is one of four original buildings on UCLA’s Westwood campus. (iStock)
Furthermore, the department accused UCLA of failing to investigate internal discrimination complaints and retaliating against faculty members who spoke out, specifically Professors Ian Holloway and Kamran Shamsa, who had filed discrimination charges.
“Numerous Jewish and Israeli employees have been forced to take leave, work from home, and even leave their jobs to avoid the hostile work environment,” the department said.Â
UCLA released a statement Tuesday calling antisemitism “abhorrent” that “has no place at UCLA or anywhere.”Â
The university added that it has established an “Initiative to Combat Antisemitism” with a clear mandate to implement “meaningful institutional change.” It also reportedly hired a dedicated Title VI/Title VII officer to ensure oversight and accountability.
Attorney General Pam Bondi alleged that UCLA administrators allowed antisemitism to foster on campus following the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
“These ongoing and long-standing institutional efforts, including clear expectations and a commitment to enforcement, are working,” Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications Mary Osako said. “We stand firmly by the decisive actions we have taken to combat antisemitism in all its forms, and we will vigorously defend our efforts and our unwavering commitment to providing a safe, inclusive environment for all members of our community.”
According to the lawsuit, the department is seeking injunctive relief, institutional policy reforms, and monetary damages for affected staff and professors.
An assistant attorney general added that the university system must confront the “vile acts” of antisemitism that have affected Jewish students and employees, indicating that the behavior is unacceptable and a serious violation of civil rights protections.
“The litany of vile acts of antisemitism that allegedly took place, and continue to take place, at UCLA are, if found to be true, a mark of shame against the University of California,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said. “The Justice Department will ensure that UCLA maintains an environment for its employees free from antisemitic harassment.”
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