LOS ANGELES — A federal antisemitism task force plans to visit USC and UCLA as part of a tour of 10 university campuses nationwide "that have experienced antisemitic incidents since October 2023," the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday.
According to a DOJ statement, the Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism notified all 10 universities of the upcoming visits, saying the group "was aware of allegations that the schools may have failed to protect Jewish students and faculty members from unlawful discrimination, in potential violation of federal law."
No timeframe was given for the visits. Nor were any specifics provided about the purported antisemitic incidents.
"The president, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, and the entire administration are committed to ensuring that no one should feel unsafe or unwelcome on campus because of their religion," task force member Leo Terrell, senior counsel to the assistant attorney general for civil rights, said in a statement. "The Task Force's mandate is to bring the full force of the federal government to bear in our effort to eradicate Anti-Semitism, particularly in schools. These visits are just one of many steps this administration is taking to deliver on that commitment."
Both USC and UCLA experienced extensive pro-Palestinian protests last year in conjunction with the Israel-Hamas War sparked by the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. A massive pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA was one of the largest campus protests of its type in the country.
Asked about the task force's planned visit, Mary Osako, UCLA vice chancellor for strategic communications, said in a statement the university "has been and continues to be committed to combating antisemitism and all forms of hate, which have no place on our campus or anywhere."
"Prior to the current academic year, UCLA proactively instituted reforms and programs to combat antisemitism and enhance campus safety, marked by the launch of our Four-Point Plan for a Safer, Stronger UCLA; issuance of revised Time, Place and Manner policies for public expression activities on campus in line with UC guidance; and consistent work with multiple campus offices and stakeholders, including UCLA Hillel, to promote safety and protect civil rights," Osako said. "Furthermore, the campus has supported an investigation and redoubled our efforts to enhance community safety and well- being."
Osako also noted that new UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk "has a strong track record of combatting antisemitism and is actively at work to help UCLA achieve our goal of fostering an environment where all members of our community are able to live, work, and learn, freely and peacefully."
USC, meanwhile, issued a statement saying it has "publicly and unequivocally denounced antisemitism in all its forms, and has taken strong actions to protect all of our students — including members of our Jewish community — from illegal discrimination of any kind. USC is proud to enroll one of the largest Jewish student bodies in the country, and we look forward to speaking with the Department of Justice about everything we have done to create a welcoming and non-discriminatory campus environment for all members of our community."
Other universities the task force plans to visit are Columbia University; George Washington University; Harvard University; Johns Hopkins University; New York University; Northwestern University; UC Berkeley; and the University of Minnesota.
