The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the University of California, Los Angeles, alleging the campus violated Title VI by showing deliberate indifference to antisemitic harassment targeting Jewish and Israeli students. The lawsuit, filed in the Central District of California, asserts that antisemitic incidents escalated after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, with students reportedly assaulted, injured, excluded from campus spaces, and deprived of educational opportunities because of their perceived identity.
According to the complaint, the DOJ contends UCLA failed to act adequately during pro‑Palestinian demonstrations, including an April 2024 encampment outside Royce Hall. Masked demonstrators allegedly slapped, kicked, beat students with sticks, used pepper spray, and formed human phalanxes that blocked access to academic buildings. The DOJ argues these incidents reflected a broader pattern of inaction that violated federal civil‑rights obligations.
Federal officials are seeking repayment of federal grants awarded during the period of alleged noncompliance, along with court‑ordered policy changes requiring timely disciplinary action, cooperation with law enforcement when campus access is obstructed, and prompt investigation of antisemitism complaints. The lawsuit follows earlier DOJ action in February 2026 alleging a hostile work environment for Jewish and Israeli faculty and staff.
UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk disputes the allegations, stating the university has not been passive and has taken steps to address antisemitism. These actions include reorganizing the civil‑rights office, appointing a Title VI officer, and recruiting an associate vice chancellor for campus and community safety. University leadership maintains that combating antisemitism remains a priority and that the DOJ’s lawsuit does not reflect the institution’s ongoing efforts.
Sources
- Yahoo News
- UPI
- KESQ
- U.S. Department of Justice
- NBC Los Angeles
- KTLA
- Reuters (via WSAU)
- Mediaite