Justice Department Sues UCLA Over Alleged Discrimination Against Jewish Students
The Justice Department has initiated a lawsuit against UCLA, claiming that the university has been indifferent to discrimination and violence against Jewish and Israeli students during protests in 2024, where students were reportedly attacked and pepper-sprayed. Human rights attorney Brooke Goldstein commented on the increasing politicization of anti-Semitism.
Since the start of the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict, college campuses have become hotspots for national discussions about anti-Semitism. However, a recent report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reveals that while student protests have gained much attention, there is a lack of oversight regarding what happens in classrooms.
The report documents instances where professors and teaching assistants allegedly included anti-Israel activities in their lectures and some even offered extra credit for attending anti-Israel events. Concerns have been raised about Jewish and Israeli students being treated unfairly in academic settings.
While public focus has primarily been on student-led demonstrations, the ADL noted that faculty conduct and curriculum decisions occur in a “relatively opaque academic space,” making it challenging for outsiders to monitor these issues.
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In January 2025, the ADL released its Campus Anti-Semitism Report, conducted in collaboration with Hillel International and College Pulse. The report found that 27.3% of Jewish students have witnessed anti-Semitic behavior from faculty members. Furthermore, it highlighted a connection between contact with faculty who engage in anti-Semitic rhetoric and increased perceptions of a hostile campus environment.
Specific examples of these dynamics include biased course content, assigned readings, political activities, and disproportionate treatment of Jewish and Israeli students. The ADL reported incidents where instructors canceled classes due to student participation in anti-Israel protests and situations where UC Berkeley students received “extra credit” for attending a series of events titled “Thinking from Palestine: Deprivation, Liberation, and Return.”
In response to inquiries from Fox News Digital, a UC Berkeley associate professor stated that the university has “no record” of students receiving extra credit for those specific courses.
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At UC Berkeley, there have been additional allegations of faculty misconduct. For example, in October 2023, a teaching assistant granted extra credit to students who participated in an anti-Israel strike framed as a protest against “the settler colonial occupation of Gaza.” This incident received widespread attention on social media. The ADL pointed out that the university has a policy against political indoctrination on campus.
Other campuses in the UC system have faced similar claims. The ADL indicated that in October 2023, a UCLA teaching assistant told students they could earn extra credit for joining an “emergency teach-in on the Palestinian crisis.”
Reports also indicate that Jewish and Israeli students have been singled out by faculty members, with encouragement to engage in politically charged course activities.
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The ADL has reported various incidents at Columbia University, with a task force documenting experiences of students. For instance, one Israeli student was asked for their opinion on “settler colonialism,” while another, an anonymous instructor, referred to a student who had served in the Israel Defense Forces as one of the “murderers.” Another non-Israeli Jewish student recounted being told, “It’s such a shame that our people survived to commit genocide.”
In response to a request for comment, a university spokesperson pointed to a previous letter from Claire Shipman, the acting president at the time, outlining ongoing efforts to enhance bias incident reporting and ensure a welcoming classroom atmosphere for Jewish students.
The ADL emphasized the importance of addressing anti-Semitic incidents involving faculty, which pose significant risks given the influence professors have over their students. The organization called for universities to enact comprehensive strategies to counter anti-Semitism and foster a safer environment for all students.
