The U.S. Justice Department announced on Wednesday that it has launched a civil investigation into the University of California system under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Under Title VII, the U.S. Attorney General has the authority to initiate investigations against state and local government employers if they find reasonable cause that they’re engaged in a “pattern or practice” of employment discrimination.
“Our country has witnessed a disturbing rise of Antisemitism at educational institutions in California and nationwide,” Chad Mizelle, acting associate attorney general and the department’s chief of staff, said in a statement. “The Department of Justice is committed to upholding Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and protecting Jewish Americans as we investigate this potential pattern of discrimination.”
The investigation will determine whether “UC has engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on race, religion and national origin against its professors, staff and other employees by allowing an Antisemitic hostile work environment to exist on its campuses,” the department said in a statement.
The DOJ said it would research UC with the Employment Opportunity Commission and the Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, a multi-agency group established last month.
In a statement to KTLA 5 News, the UC system said it is “unwavering in its commitment to combating antisemitism and protecting everyone’s civil rights.”
“We want to be clear: the University of California is unwavering in its commitment to combating antisemitism and protecting everyone’s civil rights. We continue to take specific steps to foster an environment free of harassment and discrimination for everyone in the university community.”
Last spring, several demonstrations at U.S. colleges, including UCLA, erupted in relation to the Israel-Hamas war and the Israeli occupation of Gaza and sparked debates over free speech.
