Justice Department Sues UCLA Over Alleged Antisemitism

The U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit against the University of California, Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 26, alleging the school tolerated a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students.

The complaint says UCLA violated Title VI, a federal law that bars discrimination based on race, color or national origin in federally funded programs. The department alleges UCLA showed “deliberate indifference” to what it described as pervasive on-campus antisemitism.

The lawsuit pointed to an encampment set up on the UCLA campus in April 2024 that the Justice Department described as illegal. The complaint alleges Jewish students were attacked during that period.

Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, said universities have an obligation to maintain safe and inclusive campuses for all students. He said schools that violate federal civil-rights laws by failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitism will be held accountable.

UCLA did not immediately respond to a request for comment, officials said.

Title VI complaint ties case to 2024 campus encampment

The filing centers on the Justice Department’s claim that UCLA failed to address discriminatory harassment in a way that prevented a hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli students. Title VI applies to universities and other institutions that receive federal financial assistance.

The Justice Department described the April 2024 encampment as a key episode in its allegations, saying it contributed to an unsafe campus climate. The complaint alleges the university did not act effectively to stop attacks on Jewish students during that time.

Case comes after appeals ruling on University of California grants

The department announced the lawsuit shortly after a federal appeals court earlier on Tuesday partially upheld an injunction requiring the restoration of grants to the University of California. Those grants had been terminated by the Trump administration last year because it said they supported diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

The lawsuit is the latest legal action by the Trump administration tied to its stated focus on antisemitism at U.S. universities following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent Israel-Gaza war. Student demonstrations related to the conflict spread across the U.S. and Europe, and in some cases included encampments and the occupation of campus buildings.

The next steps will include UCLA’s response in court and potential rulings on any requested relief, as the case tests how federal civil-rights enforcement will be applied to campus protests and related allegations of discrimination.