DOJ Launches Antisemitism Investigation at University of California System
“This Department of Justice will always defend Jewish Americans, protect civil rights, and leverage our resources to eradicate institutional Antisemitism in our nation’s universities”
This is long overdue, but better late than never.
CBS News reports:
Justice Department opens antisemitism investigation into University of California system
The Justice Department on Wednesday announced it is investigating the University of California system over allegations of antisemitism in the wake of protests that broke out on several campuses over the war between Israel and Hamas.
“This Department of Justice will always defend Jewish Americans, protect civil rights, and leverage our resources to eradicate institutional Antisemitism in our nation’s universities,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.
The probe, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, will look into whether UC “engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on race, religion and national origin against its professors, staff and other employees by allowing an Antisemitic hostile work environment to exist on its campuses,” the DOJ statement said.
Following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel and Israel’s retaliatory military operation in Gaza, student encampments popped up on a number of college campuses across the country — including at UCLA and other UC system campuses. Many of the protesters were calling for an end to the war, a U.S. arms embargo on Israel and for their universities to divest from Israel. But in some instances, acts of antisemitism were alleged, and some Jewish students said the encampments and encounters with protesters made them feel unsafe.
Some critics have called the encampments themselves antisemitic, with some, including President Trump, likening the protesters to terrorists.
The protests on UCLA’s campus last year made national headlines when a group of counter-protesters “came to Royce Quad and violently attacked students, faculty, and staff members who were engaged in an encampment at that location,” UCLA said at the time. The clash lasted several hours into the night, with video posted to social media showing fireworks and tear gas being launched into the encampment.
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