UC Berkeley Antisemitism Lawsuit Advances, Claims Survive

A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit accusing the University of California, Berkeley, of failing to address rampant antisemitism on campus can proceed. The case, brought by the Brandeis Center and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education, alleges that Jewish students and faculty faced harassment and violence following the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. Judge James Donato stated that the plaintiffs have sufficiently claimed violations of their equal protection and free exercise rights, as well as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. However, some contract-based claims were dismissed. The lawsuit highlights a broader issue of antisemitism in American universities, with similar allegations being made against institutions nationwide. The plaintiffs express optimism that this ruling marks a significant step in combating antisemitism at UC Berkeley.