Jewish UCLA Faculty Back UC in DOJ Suit

Ten Jewish faculty members at UCLA filed an amicus brief supporting the University of California's motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit over alleged antisemitism.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Judaism

Ten Jewish UCLA faculty members signed an amicus brief backing the UC Board of Regents' motion to dismiss a Department of Justice lawsuit filed in February 2026. The lawsuit alleges UCLA allowed antisemitic protests after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, including at a spring 2024 Palestine solidarity encampment.

Why it matters

The case tests how far federal civil rights law reaches into university responses to campus protests and alleged antisemitism. The faculty brief argues that UCLA's swift response shows the institution is already moving in the right direction, making federal intervention unnecessary.

The brief was filed by ten Jewish UCLA faculty members, a count that frames the dispute as one drawn from within the campus community. Whether the alleged antisemitism rises to a level warranting federal action remains unresolved before the court.

The players

Department of Justice

The federal department that filed the February 2026 lawsuit against the University of California, alleging violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and a failure to address antisemitism at UCLA.

UC Board of Regents

The governing body of the University of California system, which filed the motion to dismiss the federal lawsuit on October 26.

The details

The Department of Justice alleges that UCLA permitted antisemitic protests after the October 2023 Hamas attacks, including a spring 2024 encampment that allegedly excluded Jewish people and featured antisemitic posters and chants. The UC Board of Regents responded on October 26 with a motion to dismiss, acknowledging some employees experienced antisemitism while stating the university has taken steps to address discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students and faculty. The DOJ first opened an investigation in March 2025 and claims the UC violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

• October 7, 2023: Hamas attacks on Israel, with about 1,200 deaths.
• Spring 2024: Palestine solidarity encampment at UCLA.
• October 2024: UCLA task force report analyzed responses from over 400 community members.
• February 2025: Protesters vandalized UC Regent Jay Sures' Brentwood home.
• October 26: UC Board of Regents filed its motion to dismiss the DOJ lawsuit.

Big Picture

The DOJ's reliance on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 extends a federal employment-discrimination statute into the contested setting of campus protest and antisemitism. The case will test how far that statute reaches into university responses to student activism.

For Los Angeles residents, the outcome could shape how UCLA handles future protests and reports of antisemitism on campus. The court's ruling on the motion to dismiss will determine whether the federal suit proceeds.

The takeaway

Federal civil rights law is being tested against how universities respond to campus protests, a question that affects students and faculty across Los Angeles and beyond. Readers can follow the court's decision on the UC's motion to dismiss as the case moves forward.