US justice department sues UCLA over alleged antisemitism amid pro-Palestinian protests

"Based on our investigation, UCLA administrators allegedly allowed virulent anti-Semitism to flourish on campus, harming students and staff alike, Pam Bondi, the attorney general, said in a press release. The lawsuit claims UCLA violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act by failing to prevent and correct discriminatory and harassing conduct after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and ensuing war on Gaza."

"The political appointees essentially determined the outcome almost before the investigation had even started, Jen Swedish, a former DoJ lawyer who worked on a case against UCLA, told the LA Times. In December, nine justice department attorneys told the Los Angeles Times they felt pressured by the Trump administration to accuse the University of California of discriminating against Jewish students and faculty."

"Since Trump took office, the president's administration has launched investigations, filed lawsuits and frozen grant funding to universities across the country, citing issues ranging from diversity, equity and inclusion to transgender policies. Last summer, the Trump administration ordered UCLA to pay a $1bn fine over a pro-Palestine encampment in order to have more than $500m in grant funding restored."

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against UCLA, alleging the university violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act by failing to prevent discriminatory and harassing conduct against Jewish and Israeli faculty and staff following October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Gaza conflict. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that UCLA administrators allegedly allowed anti-Semitism to flourish on campus. This action represents the Trump administration's latest escalation against U.S. universities and its ongoing dispute with California. Nine Justice Department attorneys previously reported feeling pressured to accuse the University of California of discrimination against Jewish students and faculty. Since taking office, the Trump administration has launched multiple investigations, filed lawsuits, and frozen grant funding to universities nationwide over various policy issues.

Read at www.theguardian.com