Jewish UCLA students beaten with sticks, pepper sprayed and knocked out by anti-Israel campus mob: lawsuit
Lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) University of California system alleges abhorrent treatment of Jewish and Israeli students on campus, including exclusion zones and even physical attacks by anti-Israel demonstrators.
In the case, it is stated that Jewish and Israeli students were victims of targeted violent crimes, such as being beaten with sticks and blunt objects, knocked to the ground causing hospitalization, kicked, slapped and pepper sprayed.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, alleged that the University of California, Los Angeles ignored the egregious alleged behavior in 2024.
Pro-Palestinian protesters try to block a counterprotester holding an Israeli flag at UCLA on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
(Getty Images)
“On April 25, 2024, in the following months Anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli demonstrationsMasked and armed agitators, many openly hostile to Jews and Israelis, invaded the heart of the University of California, Los Angeles campus,” the lawsuit begins.
“They set up an illegal camp, surrounded it with barriers, and formed ‘human phalanxes’ to prevent Jews and Israelis from entering academic buildings,” he continues. “They kicked Jews, slapped them, beat Jews with sticks, and attacked Jews with pepper spray. One Jewish student fainted and was taken to the hospital with an open wound in his head.”
The lawsuit states that UCLA “inexplicably took no serious action” until May 2025 and alleges that the school’s “decision to ignore harassment and discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students also violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits race and national origin discrimination.” higher education“
On April 25, 2024, UC Divest, a group of anti-Israel student groups including the infamous Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), built a camp in Royce Quad, described as a heavily trafficked and crucial area of the UCLA campus. Some UCLA faculty members are also accused of participating in the demonstration and “aiding and abetting” illegal activities.
The Justice Department says anti-Semitic and anti-Israel demonstrators “built a barrier around the perimeter of plywood sheets, some of which were attached to metal bike racks,” and “barricaded the doors of Royce Hall and Powell Library with trash cans, tents, ropes, and bike racks.”
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They painted graffiti on buildings and posted signs with derogatory messages such as “F—— ISRAEL,” F—— ALL Jews” and “Israelis Native 2 HELL,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that anti-Israel demonstrators formed human chains to prevent Jewish and Israeli students (or those perceived to be Jewish or Israeli) from freely entering the courtyard where key campus buildings, including a library, are located. Demonstrators even distributed wristbands to those allowed to pass freely through the area, but Jewish and Israeli students were excluded.
Worse, according to the lawsuit, physical violence against “Zionists” and Jewish and Israeli students became commonplace, and demonstrators began arming themselves with weapons such as pepper spray and lumberjacks, and “established militia-style checkpoints on the UCLA campus and refused to allow Jews to pass through public property unless the Jews denounced one of their core principles.” religion“
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The lawsuit describes a Native American Jewish woman who counter-demonstrated with a sign that read: “Hamas his supporters are not welcome on Indigenous territory, where they are then “quickly surrounded by a mob” and “violently attacked”.
Meanwhile, UCLA police were standing “right behind” [her] And [did] absolutely nothing,” according to the lawsuit.
The invaders sprayed the woman with pepper gas Star of David The lawsuit states that he was the one who held an Israeli flag, knocked a pro-Israel woman to the ground, beat her unconscious, causing an open head wound that required hospitalization, and physically assaulted a Jewish man, telling him “Hitler kidnapped one.”
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On April 30, 2024, UCLA administrators said “declared the camp illegal and instructed all involved to leave or face discipline,” and UCLA Chancellor Gene Bock acknowledged: “Jewish students [were] anxious and fearful” and “students were physically denied access to parts of the campus on their way to class.”
That same day, counterprotesters clashed with the occupiers in what the lawsuit described as “a hectic scene that included violent clashes, including an attack by occupiers and counterprotesters.”[ing] each other with pepper spray, blunt objects, and even fireworks.”
The next day, a minibus marked with a Star of David within a swastika was parked on campus in support of the anti-Israel camp. The van “had anti-Semitic graffiti referring to Jews as ‘puppet masters,’ was parked on the UCLA campus in support of the camp,” and was welcomed by passersby, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit states that clashes between the occupiers and the police and Jewish students continued until May and June 2024.
428 Jewish and Israeli students, faculty, and university staff were then surveyed about their experiences during the unrest. About 50 percent of them said they had “witnessed physical threats or attacks against Jews and Israelis.”
“I was attacked, threatened and harassed during the camp. I was holding an Israeli flag and a man ran towards me to push me,” said one student who participated in the survey. “I was blocked because I was Jewish. They were calling for a mass intifada that would kill Jews.”
In total, physical damage to the taxpayer-funded school totaled $12.3 million.
Assistant in a press release announcing the lawsuit Tuesday. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the Justice Department will hold UCLA “accountable for its tolerance of an equally appallingly hostile educational environment toward Jewish and Israeli students.”
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“Universities have an obligation to provide safe and inclusive campuses for all students,” First Assistant Attorney General for the Central District of California Bill Essayli said in the statement. “Universities that violate the morality of our nation” civil rights “Laws that repeatedly fail to protect Jewish students from antisemitism will be held accountable.”
University of California President James Milliken made a statement on Tuesday after the lawsuit was filed.
“The Board of Trustees and administrative leadership are clear: Antisemitism has no place at the University of California. We have initiated numerous systemwide reforms and programs to improve safety on our campuses and combat antisemitism,” he said. “
“UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk, whose family was deeply affected by Nazi antisemitism and the Holocaust, has made the protection of Jewish students, faculty, and staff on campus a top priority since he took office. It is deeply disappointing that this latest lawsuit demonstrates a lack of recognition or respect for this important work. This lawsuit and other actions by the federal government targeting the University of California do nothing to contribute to our ongoing efforts to address antisemitism and create safe and welcoming campus environments for Jewish and all members of our community.”
Fox News Digital reached out to UCLA.
Original article source: Jewish UCLA students beaten with sticks, pepper sprayed and knocked unconscious by anti-Israel campus gang: lawsuit
