Report: Department of Justice investigating antisemitism in University of California system

The American Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division is launching an investigation into antisemitism in the University of California system, according to an exclusive report today (Wednesday) by The Free Press.

Nine days after being inaugurated, Donald Trump signed an executive order saying that "It shall be the policy of the United States to combat anti-Semitism vigorously, using all available and appropriate legal tools, to prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold to account the perpetrators of unlawful anti-Semitic harassment and violence."

The order includes requirements to compile and report all incidents of antisemitic hate and harassment of Jews in either the K-12 school system or in higher education.

The Trump administration is already investigating antisemitism in Columbia University, which was notorious in the days after October 7 as being the hotbed of the most vocal and virulent anti-Israel and often antisemitic protests and harassment of Jews, as documented by Israeli professor Shai Davidai.

Now, in a letter to Dr. Michael Drake, President of the University of California, Deputy Attorneys General from the Civil Rights Division said that "Our investigation is based on information suggesting that since at least October 7, 2023, the University of California may be engaged in certain employment practices that discriminate against employees who are or are perceived to be Jewish or Israeli. Accordingly, the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division has authorized a full investigation to determine whether the University of California is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination as set forth above."

The letter did qualify this statement by saying that "it is important to note that we have not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigation. We intend to consider all relevant information, and we welcome your assistance in helping to identify what that might be. We would appreciate your cooperation in our investigation."