Justice Department sues UCLA for the third time, alleges antisemitism against students

Key Points:

• The Trump administration sued UCLA, accusing the university of “deliberate indifference” to antisemitic harassment of Jewish students following the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, marking the third federal civil rights lawsuit against the University of California this year.
• The 53-page complaint alleges UCLA tolerated a hostile environment, including violent incidents at a pro-Palestinian encampment in April 2024, and demands repayment of federal grants, suspension of new contracts, and court-appointed oversight.
• UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk rejected the claims of passivity, highlighting recent actions taken to combat antisemitism, including appointing new officials and revising policies to protect free expression and community safety.
• The lawsuit references reports from UCLA’s Task Force on Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias, which acknowledged campus issues but also noted progress, while the Justice Department’s suit does not address similar concerns raised about anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim racism.
• This suit adds to ongoing Justice Department actions against UC, including allegations of racially discriminatory medical school admissions and failure to address antisemitism in the workplace, with investigations extending to other California medical schools.