DOJ Sues UCLA Over Antisemitic Harassment of Jewish Employees

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the University of California, alleging that the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) failed to protect Jewish and Israeli employees from antisemitic harassment during pro-Palestinian protests on campus in 2023 and 2024.

The civil rights complaint, lodged in a federal court in California, centers on UCLA's response to demonstrations that federal officials say created a hostile work environment for Jewish staff members. According to the suit, university administrators tolerated disruptive activities, including a 2024 protest encampment that blocked access to parts of the campus for Jewish employees and students. The encampment reportedly featured antisemitic signs and chants, yet UCLA did not discipline any students, faculty or staff involved in such behavior, violating its own antidiscrimination policies.

Federal investigators previously determined that UCLA had failed to safeguard Jewish students during similar unrest. Last year, the university settled a related lawsuit for $6 million with three Jewish students and one Jewish professor who claimed they faced harassment. The new action extends those concerns...