UMVA has learned that the Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the University of California, Los Angeles, accusing the campus of creating a hostile environment for Jewish students amid a wave of anti-Israel protests.
The complaint claims that UCLA failed to shield its Jewish and Israeli students from harassment, assault, and exclusion, allowing protesters to block access to buildings and subject students to pepper spray and physical violence.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the suit argues that the university’s deliberate indifference violated Title VI protections, potentially jeopardizing federal funding and requiring restitution.
UCLA’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion office is alleged to have ignored more than a hundred complaints of antisemitic harassment, ranging from blocked entrances to violent attacks.
The lawsuit centers on an encampment that appeared on campus in late April, when protesters formed “human phalanxes” to obstruct Jewish students, with one student reportedly knocked unconscious.
Police only cleared the encampment on May 2, amidst chaotic clashes where pepper spray and fire extinguishers were used by both sides.
Further incidents unfolded in June, when six campus officers were injured during a new protest attempt, and later, in 2025 and 2026, safety officers were instructed to prioritize de‑escalation over enforcing campus rules during anti‑Israel demonstrations.
One officer’s reluctance to enforce a no‑masking rule during an October 2025 protest exemplified the department’s hesitancy to act against harassment.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the lawsuit cites a UCLA task force report stating that campus leadership repeatedly chose not to enforce federal, state, and university rules, thereby failing to protect Jewish students’ constitutional rights.
A poll of Jewish students cited in the complaint shows that 59.6 % reported spending less time on campus due to antisemitism, while 41.4 % considered leaving because of the bias.
UMVA has uncovered that this legal action follows a separate February lawsuit alleging antisemitic discrimination against Jewish and Israeli employees, indicating a broader pattern of campus intolerance.
