The U.S. Department of Justice has taken legal action against the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), alleging that the institution permitted a hostile educational environment for Jewish students. This lawsuit follows a series of anti-Israel protests on campus that reportedly left Jewish students feeling unsafe and marginalized.

Allegations of Discrimination

The lawsuit claims that UCLA violated Title VI protections by showing ‘deliberate indifference’ to the discrimination faced by Jewish students. The Justice Department argues that the university’s inaction could jeopardize its federal funding. According to the complaint, UCLA’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion office ignored over 100 complaints of antisemitic harassment, including incidents where Jewish students were blocked from campus buildings, assaulted, and subjected to pepper spray and physical violence.

Protests and Campus Climate

The central focus of the lawsuit is UCLA’s handling of an anti-Israel protest encampment that emerged on campus in late April 2024. This encampment was part of a broader wave of protests across college campuses in response to escalating tensions in the Gaza war. The Justice Department alleges that the encampment created a ‘Judenrein’ environment, effectively excluding Jewish students who did not share the protesters’ views.

During the encampment, protesters reportedly formed ‘human phalanxes’ to block Jewish students from accessing campus facilities. One Jewish student was allegedly kicked to the ground and knocked unconscious. Despite these incidents, police did not clear the encampment until May 2, 2024, after clashes between protesters and officers.

Ongoing Concerns

Even after these events, UCLA’s approach to handling anti-Israel protests has been criticized. School safety officers were reportedly instructed to prioritize ‘de-escalation’ over enforcing campus policies during subsequent protests in 2025 and 2026. This approach has raised concerns about the university’s commitment to protecting the rights and safety of all students.

The lawsuit also references findings from UCLA’s own task force, which concluded that campus leadership failed to enforce laws and university rules, thereby neglecting the constitutional rights of Jewish students. A poll cited in the lawsuit found that 59.6% of Jewish students reported spending less time on campus due to antisemitism, and 41.4% considered leaving the school.

This legal action is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to address antisemitism linked to anti-Israel protests on college campuses. The Justice Department had previously filed a separate case against UCLA in February, accusing the university of antisemitic discrimination against Jewish and Israeli employees.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.