Jewish students and staff at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), were threatened, harassed and sometimes assaulted, according to a new report published by the UCLA Antisemitism Task Force. The task force was established by UCLA Interim Chancellor Darnell Hunt in February 2024.
The task force surveyed 428 Jewish and Israeli members of the UCLA community. Respondents reported experiencing an uptick in antisemitism following Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack.
Forty percent of respondents reported experiencing discrimination at UCLA, including comments and slurs directed at them in person on campus. Nearly one-fifth reported being physically threatened. The report also states that over 100 Jewish individuals reported physical threats or attacks at UCLA.
Several respondents noted graffiti plastered on buildings, using slurs against Jews. Swastikas were also spray-painted on campus buildings, chalkboards, and sidewalks.
Jewish students and staff recalled a statue of a pig featuring a clock with the words “Time is running out,” holding a bag with a dollar sign, with a Jewish star and flames surrounding the words “UC Regents.” The report stated that the pig statue was allowed to remain on campus for more than a week.
When a pro-Palestinian encampment appeared on campus, the task force said UCLA prioritized free speech over addressing protesters, even when they violated school rules by setting up tents and making antisemitic remarks.
The task force reported that Jewish students were barred from walking through the encampment across campus to their classes or dorm rooms, making them feel unsafe and uncomfortable on campus.
“If it were hate directed against any other minority group, there would be zero tolerance. It is becoming normalized at UCLA,” one respondent told the task force.
Nearly 60% of respondents said they spent less time on UCLA’s campus during the winter and spring because of antisemitism and anti-Israel bias.
In May 2024, pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with pro-Israel protesters in a heated exchange on campus that turned violent, leading to beatings and people being pepper-sprayed. University police moved in to dismantle the encampment, resulting in dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters being arrested.
In August 2024, a federal judge ruled that UCLA must guarantee equal campus access for Jewish students.
The task force recommends that UCLA make an effort “to mitigate hatred, racism, discrimination, and antisemitism” by providing education and training to community members, overhauling the complaint and reporting system and enforcing rules, laws and policies to protect Jewish and Israeli community members.
