ACF Monitoring DOJ Lawsuit Against University of California System Over Alleged Antisemitism

ACF Monitoring DOJ Lawsuit Against University of California System Over Alleged Antisemitism

Alums for Campus Fairness (ACF) is closely monitoring a new lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division against the University of California system, alleging a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The suit claims that following the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks, there was a pattern of discrimination and a failure to prevent a hostile work environment against Jewish and Israeli faculty and staff at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

The lawsuit stems from a Commissioner’s Charge filed by then-Commissioner Andrea Lucas of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in June 2024. According to the DOJ, investigators found evidence that UCLA administrators allegedly allowed severe antisemitism to flourish on campus, harming both students and staff.

The case follows a federal settlement reached seven months ago between UCLA and Jewish students who alleged that the university allowed antisemitic behavior to occur during anti-Israel encampments on campus in spring 2024.

ACF views this lawsuit as another serious signal that universities must take antisemitism complaints from faculty, staff, and students seriously and respond promptly and consistently. Institutions have an obligation to ensure that their campuses are free from discrimination and harassment, and that Jewish and pro-Israel community members can work and study without fear.

About ACF: Alums for Campus Fairness (ACF) leverages the unique power of alumni to combat antisemitism on college campuses. ACF helps organize and cultivate alumni chapters for colleges and universities across the country, equipping members with tools, tactics, and training to proactively engage with administrators. Learn more at www.campusfairness.org.