Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Lawsuit
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
University investigation issuing in sanctions
Faculty sanctioned
Rally or Protests
Campus police
Other Law Enforcement
Litigation
Title IX or other federal statute
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Incident Status:
In litigation Federal District Court
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
On May 26, 2026, the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit against the University of California alleging that the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) created a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The complaint alleged that UCLA was deliberately indifferent to discrimination based on race and national origin and failed to protect Jewish and Israeli students from antisemitic harassment and discrimination. The lawsuit followed a Justice Department investigation into reports of antisemitic incidents at UCLA and alleged that the university violated its obligations as a recipient of federal funding by failing to address the alleged conduct.
The complaint alleged that, following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s subsequent military response in Gaza, protests and demonstrations occurred on college campuses across the United States, including at UCLA. The Justice Department alleged that antisemitic incidents at UCLA increased during this period and that Jewish and Israeli students were “physically assaulted, injured, excluded from campus, and deprived of educational opportunities because of their perceived Jewish or Israeli heritage.” The complaint alleged that UCLA failed to respond adequately to repeated reports of harassment and discrimination.
The lawsuit focused in part on events surrounding a pro-Palestinian encampment established at UCLA in April 2024. According to the complaint, demonstrators assaulted Jewish and Israeli students and blocked access to certain campus areas and facilities. The complaint alleged that protesters created an exclusionary environment in which Jewish and Israeli students were prevented from fully accessing campus resources. The Justice Department alleged that UCLA officials knew about the alleged conduct but failed to take sufficient action to prevent or remedy the situation.
The complaint alleged that UCLA breached federal funding obligations by certifying compliance with Title VI while failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students from unlawful discrimination. The Justice Department sought court ordered relief requiring UCLA to address the alleged discrimination and comply with federal civil rights requirements. The complaint stated that UCLA’s actions and inactions denied Jewish and Israeli students equal access to educational opportunities and campus programs.
UCLA disputed the allegations and stated that the university had taken steps to address antisemitism on campus, including implementing policy changes, disciplinary measures, and initiatives focused on campus safety and combating bias. UCLA also stated that it had worked to protect students’ rights to free expression while addressing reports of discrimination and harassment.
The lawsuit came on the heels of a separate February 24, 2026 lawsuit filed by the Justice Department against the University of California alleging that UCLA created a hostile work environment for Jewish and Israeli faculty and staff in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Unlike the May 2026 lawsuit, which concerned alleged discrimination against students and the denial of access to educational opportunities, the February 2026 lawsuit concerned allegations involving UCLA employees and the workplace environment. That complaint alleged that Jewish and Israeli faculty and staff experienced antisemitic harassment, discrimination, and retaliation following October 7, 2023, and that UCLA failed to take adequate steps to prevent or correct the alleged conduct. The Justice Department alleged that the university allowed discriminatory conditions to persist in employment settings, including academic departments and campus programs, and sought relief requiring UCLA to address alleged violations of federal employment discrimination laws.
