Jewish students faced violent attacks and exclusion zones during UCLA campus protests, federal lawsuit claims

The Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Jewish and Israeli students at the University of California, Los Angeles, were subjected to systematic discrimination, physical violence, and exclusion from campus facilities during anti-Israel demonstrations in 2024. The complaint, filed Tuesday in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, details incidents ranging from physical assaults with weapons to the creation of exclusion zones that prevented Jewish students from accessing academic buildings. The lawsuit accuses UCLA of failing to protect students and violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race and national origin in federally funded educational institutions.

According to the legal filing, the violence escalated after masked demonstrators occupied Royce Quad on April 25, 2024, following months of escalating tensions on campus. The occupiers constructed barriers using plywood sheets and metal bicycle racks, effectively cordoning off a heavily trafficked area containing key academic buildings including Royce Hall and Powell Library. Demonstrators allegedly established checkpoint-style barriers and formed human chains to screen who could pass through the area, issuing wristbands to approved individuals while blocking those perceived to be Jewish or Israeli.

Violence and physical assaults documented in federal complaint

The lawsuit describes multiple violent incidents targeting Jewish students during the encampment period. A Native American Jewish woman holding a sign reading “Hamas supporters are not welcome on Native land” was quickly surrounded and violently assaulted while UCLA police stood directly behind her without intervening, according to the complaint. Another incident involved a woman wearing a Star of David and holding an Israeli flag who was pepper sprayed by occupiers. In perhaps the most serious assault documented, a pro-Israel woman was knocked to the ground, beaten unconscious, and suffered an open head wound requiring hospitalization.

The complaint also details an incident where a Jewish man was physically assaulted while perpetrators told him “Hitler missed one.” Demonstrators armed themselves with pepper spray, wooden lumber, and blunt objects, according to the lawsuit. The occupiers allegedly barricaded building entrances using garbage cans, tents, ropes, and bicycle racks, while graffiti with messages including “F— ISRAEL,” “F— ALL Jews,” and “israelis Are Native 2 HELL” appeared on campus buildings.

Encampment remained for days despite university declaration

On April 30, 2024, UCLA administrators declared the encampment illegal and directed participants to leave or face discipline. Chancellor Gene Block acknowledged that Jewish students were “in a state of anxiety and fear” and that students attempting to reach class “have been physically blocked from accessing parts of campus.” Despite this declaration, violent confrontations continued. That same day, counter-protesters clashed with occupiers in chaotic scenes that included attacks with pepper spray, blunt objects, and fireworks from both sides.

The following day, a van marked with a Star of David inside a swastika appeared on campus in support of the encampment. The vehicle featured antisemitic writing referring to Jews as “puppet masters” and was welcomed by passersby supporting the demonstration, according to the legal filing. Confrontations between occupiers, police, and Jewish students continued through May and June 2024.

Survey reveals widespread threats witnessed by campus community

A survey conducted after the events included responses from 428 Jewish and Israeli students, faculty members, and staff at UCLA. Approximately 50 percent of respondents reported witnessing physical threats or attacks directed at Jews and Israelis during the unrest. Survey participants shared firsthand accounts of the hostile environment they experienced during the encampment period.

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• One student reported being assaulted, threatened, and harassed while holding an Israeli flag, stating a man ran toward them to push them.
• Multiple respondents described being blocked from campus areas specifically because they were Jewish.
• Survey participants reported hearing collective calls for intifada, which respondents interpreted as calls to kill Jews.
• The physical damage to the taxpayer-funded university totaled $12.3 million.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated in a press release announcing the lawsuit that the DOJ will hold UCLA “to account for its toleration of the equally appalling hostile educational environment against its Jewish and Israeli students.” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California emphasized that universities have an obligation to maintain safe and inclusive campuses for all students and will be held accountable for violating civil rights laws.

UC Divest coalition organized encampment occupation

The encampment was organized by UC Divest, a coalition of anti-Israel student organizations including Students for Justice Palestine. The demonstrators established what the lawsuit describes as “militia-style checkpoints” and refused to allow Jews to traverse public property unless they denounced core tenets of their religion. Some UCLA faculty members are accused in the lawsuit of joining the demonstration and “aiding and abetting” illegal activities on campus.

The occupation of Royce Quad was particularly disruptive because of the area’s central location on campus. Students attempting to access the library and other essential academic facilities were forced to navigate the barriers and checkpoints, with Jewish and Israeli students facing particular scrutiny and exclusion. The demonstrators maintained control of the area for several days despite the university’s declaration that the encampment was illegal.

University leadership responds to federal allegations

University of California President James Milliken issued a statement following the lawsuit filing, asserting that the Board of Regents and administrative leadership have been unequivocal that antisemitism has no place at the University of California. Milliken stated the system has instituted numerous systemwide reforms and programs to promote safety and combat antisemitism on campuses. He specifically mentioned UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk, whose family was affected by Nazi antisemitism and the Holocaust, saying Frenk has made the protection of Jewish students, faculty, and staff the highest priority since taking office.

Milliken expressed disappointment that the litigation shows no recognition of or respect for the essential work being done to address antisemitism. He stated that the lawsuit and other federal actions targeting the University of California do nothing to aid ongoing efforts to address antisemitism and create safe and welcoming campus environments for all community members. The university system now faces significant legal pressure to demonstrate concrete improvements in protecting Jewish students from discrimination and violence on campus.