Doj starts civil rights examinations in UC system – NBC Los Angeles

The Ministry of Justice initiated an investigation by the University of California on Wednesday in accordance with title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Title VII gives the US lawyer the general authority to initiate investigations against employers from the state and local government if they find a reasonable reason that they are involved in a “pattern or practice” of discrimination based on the employment relationship.

Officials say that the investigation will examine alleged discrimination against 10 UC campus.

“The investigation will assess whether UC has involved a pattern or a discrimination practice based on breed, religion and national origin against its professors, employees and other employees by an anti -Semitic enemy work environment on his campus,” said the doj in a press release.

In an explanation of NBC4, the UC system pressed back.

“We want to be clear: The University of California is unshakable in its commitment to combating anti -Semitism and the protection of civil rights of everyone. We continue to take specific steps to promote an environment free of harassment and discrimination for everyone in the university community. “

The Israel Hamas War has built through the American college campus, triggered mass protests and lit a heated debate about the limits of freedom of speech.

The announcement on Wednesday reflects a broader approach by the Trump administration against some of the American elite universities in America.

In January, President Trump signed an executive regulation in which “additional measures to combat anti -Semitism” are listed. On February 28, the Federal Task Force to combat anti -Semitism said that investigators would attend 10 schools, including USC and UCLA, to determine whether “remedial measures are justified”.

“This Ministry of Justice will always defend Jewish Americans, protect civil rights and use our resources to eliminate institutional anti -Semitism at the universities of our nation,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi on Wednesday.

In a social media contribution on Tuesday, President Trump threatened to reduce federal financing for every college that allows the so -called “illegal protests” and threatened to deport foreign students on visas.

The foundation for individual rights and expression condemned this proposal as “deeply cold”.

“As Fire knows too well from our work, which defend the rights of the students and the faculty in the context of the Obama and Biden administration, the risk of schools with the loss of federal financing will lead to a procedure against legitimate speeches,” said speaking freedom.

According to a report from 2023, more than 250,000 people work for the UC system and represent California's third largest employer in 2023. The ten campus extends over Los Angeles, Riverside, Irvine, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Berkeley, San Francisco, Davis and Merced.