“Based on our investigation, UCLA administrators allegedly allowed virulent anti-Semitism to flourish on campus, harming students and staff alike,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s lawsuit underscores that this Department of Justice stands strong against hate and anti-Semitism in all its vile forms.”
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit accusing the University of California of creating a hostile work environment against Jewish and Israeli faculty and staff.
In a politically-charged press release, the government claimed that, since the October 2023 terror attacks in Israel, “antisemitic acts pervaded UCLA.” The Department of Justice accuses the university system of violating provisions of Title VII by “failing to prevent and correct discriminatory and harassing conduct. The suit further alleges the University negligently permitted a hostile work environment against two charging parties and other aggrieved Jewish and Israeli employees.”
“In 2024, the University allowed antisemitic harassment to continue unabated for days in front of its iconic Royce Hall: among other acts, Jews were not permitted on portions of the main quad, Jewish professors were assaulted, and swastikas were graffitied on University buildings. The University has ignored, and continues to ignore, gross and repeated violations of viewpoint-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions involving these and other actions directed against Jewish and Israeli employees,” the Justice Department said in a press release. “Jewish and Israeli faculty have been physically threatened, had their classrooms disrupted, and had their workplaces papered with disturbing images. Jewish professors have been, and continue to be, subjected to ostracism and harassment by their colleagues and students, while their colleagues and supervisors not only have failed to report those acts as required but have even participated in them. Numerous Jewish and Israeli employees have been forced to take leave, work from home, and even leave their jobs to avoid the hostile work environment.”
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi also said that the Justice Department had conducted an “investigation” that uncovered evidence of widespread antisemitism and antisemitic acts.
“Based on our investigation, UCLA administrators allegedly allowed virulent anti-Semitism to flourish on campus, harming students and staff alike,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s lawsuit underscores that this Department of Justice stands strong against hate and anti-Semitism in all its vile forms.”
“The litany of vile acts of antisemitism that allegedly took place, and continue to take place, at UCLA are, if found to be true, a mark of shame against the University of California,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “The Justice Department will ensure that UCLA maintains an environment for its employees free from antisemitic harassment.”
Both Bondi and Dhillon played active roles in challenging the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election.
Sources
Trump sues UC over alleged hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli UCLA employees
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