The United States Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has filed a lawsuit against the University of California, alleging that its Los Angeles campus (UCLA) created a hostile work environment for Jewish and Israeli faculty and staff. The suit claims that the university violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by failing to prevent or address discrimination and harassment.
The complaint states that following the Hamas-led attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, antisemitic incidents increased at UCLA. The lawsuit alleges that Jewish and Israeli employees were subjected to ongoing harassment, including being excluded from parts of the main quad, physical assaults on Jewish professors, and swastikas painted on university buildings. It further claims that university administrators did not enforce viewpoint-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions regarding these actions.
According to the Justice Department, some faculty members faced threats, disruptions in their classrooms, and disturbing images posted in their workplaces. The suit also alleges that colleagues and supervisors sometimes participated in or failed to report acts of ostracism and harassment. As a result, several employees took leave or left their jobs.
“UCLA failed to live up to its systemwide commitment to diversity and equal opportunity when it stood by as Jewish employees were subjected to harassment,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “The federal government has an obligation to step in and ensure a discrimination-free environment at our universities.”
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated: “Based on our investigation, UCLA administrators allegedly allowed virulent anti-Semitism to flourish on campus, harming students and staff alike. Today’s lawsuit underscores that this Department of Justice stands strong against hate and anti-Semitism in all its vile forms.”
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon added: “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. The Justice Department will ensure that UCLA maintains an environment for its employees free from antisemitic harassment.”
The legal action follows a Commissioner’s Charge filed by then-Commissioner Andrea Lucas of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in June 2024. The EEOC played a key role in investigating complaints about harassment at UCLA. EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas commented: “The EEOC is committed to eradicating antisemitism at work. If a university will not investigate and remedy repeated allegations of antisemitism against its employees, then EEOC will.”
Assistant United States Attorney Julie A. Hamill is leading litigation efforts with other officials from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California supports community outreach through victim assistance programs and public education initiatives (official website). This office serves more than 19 million residents across seven counties (official website) while focusing on prosecuting federal criminal cases and handling civil matters for the government (official website). It collaborates with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to maintain public safety (official website).
