The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Wednesday it will launch a civil rights investigation into anti-Semitism allegations at the University of California.
According to press releasethe department investigates whether universities engage in “patterns or practices of discrimination” based on workers “based on race, religion, national origin” by “making an anti-Semitic, hostile work environment” in schools of the system.
“On October 7th, 2023, following the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel, there was an outbreak of anti-Semitism incidents at major American higher education institutions, including my own alma mater on UC's UCLA campus.”
“The impact on UC students has been subject to considerable media attention and multiple federal investigations,” Turrell continued.
Attorney General Pam Bondy added that her department will “constantly defend Jewish Americans, protect civil rights, and use our resources to eradicate institutional anti-Semitism at our country's universities.”
The University of California said in a statement sent by email to Oka on Wednesday that it had been “recently notified of the Department of Justice's decision to launch a civil rights investigation into the University of California system.”
“We want to be clear. The University of California is unshakable in its commitment to combat anti-Semitism and protecting civil rights for everyone. We continue to take concrete steps to promote an environment that is free from harassment and discrimination for everyone in our university community,” the statement continued.
Earlier this week, the Trump administration announced it was considering contracts and grants related to Columbia University due to anti-Semitism allegations against schools.
The Ministry of Health and Human Services, the Department of General Services and Education all said in a statement that reviews have arisen due to Colombia's “inaction in the face of merciless harassment of Jewish students.”
The president also threatened to terminate funding for universities that allow “illegal protests” in response to the war in Gaza.
Last year, pro-Palestinian protests broke out on university campuses around the country amidst the tensions between Israel and Palestinians, with both the University of California, Los Angeles and Columbia University taking on the protests that attracted the nation's attention.
