Jewish advocacy groups have filed a 36-page lawsuit against the University of California system, UC Berkeley, and its leaders, citing a "longstanding, unchecked spread of antisemitism."

The complaint, lodged by the Brandeis Center and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education, asserts that the university's "inaction" on discrimination against Jewish students has allowed antisemitism, violence, and harassment to proliferate, with incidents following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel cited as examples.

This lawsuit is among the first high-profile legal actions against a university in the aftermath of protests related to the Middle East conflict, according to POLITICO.

The plaintiffs argue that at least 23 Berkeley Law student groups have enacted policies excluding students or barring speakers who do not disavow Israel or identify as Zionists.

They contend that anti-Zionism equates to antisemitism, alleging violations of constitutional rights.

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Lawsuit Accuses Over 2 Dozen Student Organizations in UC Berkeley of Harassing Jewish Individuals at the University

The lawsuit, filed in Northern California District Court, specifically accuses over two dozen student organizations at UC Berkeley of harassing Jewish individuals on campus, per the NY Post.

Plaintiffs representing Jewish students, including the Louis D. Brandeis Center and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education, note that these groups ban Zionist speakers, which they argue constitutes blatant discrimination.

The complaint cites a surge in antisemitism since the Hamas attacks, pointing to incidents of intimidation, harassment, and physical violence against Jewish students.

One rally saw a Jewish undergraduate draped in an Israeli flag assaulted with a metal water bottle.

Hate mail advocating for the gassing and murder of Jewish students and professors has been reported, causing many to feel fearful about attending classes.

The lawsuit underscores disruptions by pro-Palestinian protesters at a Jewish student prayer gathering and recounts an incident where a UC Berkeley professor launched an 18-minute anti-Israel rant during a discussion with 1,000 freshmen.

Notably, the suit quotes legal scholar Chemerinsky, who expressed unprecedented concern about the recent surge in antisemitism.

The plaintiffs include former and current Jewish students, and the lawsuit names the University of California Regents, UC President Michael Drake, UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ, and others as defendants.

Similar allegations of antisemitism have been directed at New York universities, with three, including Columbia, Cornell, and Cooper Union, currently under investigation by the Department of Education.

UC Berkeley Speaks Up Following Lawsuit

University of California system's UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof responded to the lawsuit, acknowledging the concerns expressed by the Brandeis Center but asserting that the claims are inconsistent with the First Amendment and do not align with the actual occurrences on campus.

Mogulof highlighted the university's commitment to addressing antisemitism, citing initiatives like the Chancellor's Committee on Jewish Student Life in 2015 and the Antisemitism Education Initiative launched in 2019, FOX 2 noted.

Emphasizing the university's dedication to confronting antisemitism while respecting constitutional rights, Mogulof explained that as a public institution, UC Berkeley lacks the legal authority to suppress offensive expressions protected by the US Constitution.

He acknowledged the impact of certain demonstrations on Jewish students, asserting that the university is responding to these concerns.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

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