Federal civil rights complaint filed against University of Washington over ‘rampant’ antisemitism during Gaza camp protests

According to the complaint, obtained by The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI, "Jewish students at the University of Washington (“UW” or “the University”) have been subjected to severe and persistent harassment and discrimination based on their shared ancestry and ethnicity, which has created a hostile environment on campus. Jewish students have been threatened with physical harm, excluded and forced out of areas on campus they are entitled to access, and unable to attend class. Vandals have repeatedly covered the campus with anti-Semitic graffiti calling for violence against Zionists.”

The complaint noted how, most recently, anti-Israel activists shut down a Board of Regents meeting at the university where Jewish university and community members were testifying about antisemitism on campus and police had to escort Jewish community members from the location for their safety, rather than dealing with the activists.

According to the complaint, UW knew about antisemitic incidents, but has not taken any real steps to “address the hostile climate for Jewish students at UW.”

The complaint cited specific examples, beginning “Shortly after Oct. 7, the UW student group, SUPER UW, held a rally to ‘honor the martyrs of Palestine,’ venerating the Hamas terrorists who murdered, raped, and tortured innocent Jewish children, babies, women, and the elderly in the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. At the rally, protestors chanted ‘from the river to the sea,’ a slogan calling for genocide through the ethnic cleansing of Jews from the State of Israel.”

According to the complaint, in the months that followed, anti-Semitic graffiti such as “Zionist (piss on ‘em)” “mug Zionists only,” “F*ck off Zionists,” “Zionists f*ck off,” “Zionists home,” “Save a life…kill your local colonizer” along with the Hamas kill symbol of an inverted triangle appeared all over UW’s campus.

The complaint noted that while UW President Cauce admitted the graffiti was “vile,” “anti-Semitic,” “violent,” and created an “unwelcome and fearful environment for many students, faculty and staff, especially those who are Jewish,” she failed to take action to address it and allowed hate to escalate.

The complaint also described an incident during which anti-Israel radicals shut down a bowling event hosted by the Jewish fraternity AEPi. Activists took over the building, yelling, “Get out of here” and “Zionists go home.”

Much of the complaint addressed the Gaza camp that occupied the campus last spring. During the occupation, when a Jewish student approached the encampment, students in the encampment confronted him, stating, “We’re going to kill [you]” and “We’re going to end your life.” The following day, activists attempted to grab an Israeli flag he was holding, circled him, obstructed his movements, and prevented him from walking through the quad. When he began to escape, someone yelled, “Let’s go get the knife.” Later that evening when the Jewish student had to walk through the encampment to get home from a party, occupiers ran up to him with hammers, threatening “Yo, bro, shut the f*ck up, I’ll f*cking end you” and “I’ll kill you.” Though the student reported the incidents to a school administrator and campus police, neither offered assistance or protective measures.

The complaint also described physical bullying by encampment activists which included the harassment of a Jewish student wearing a yarmulke, the traditional Jewish head covering for men. When the student had to walk through the quad to get to class, protestors yelled, “Go home,” “You’re not welcome,” and “We know who you are…go away.”

The complaint described antifa activists who were part of the encampment as “individuals who participated in the encampment were dressed in black and carrying sticks and shields.” The Jewish student hid his yarmulke to avoid being harassed, missed classes because he was afraid to walk through the quad, and left UW at the end of the semester.

Students were allegedly told by UW’s Vice President of Student Life and campus police to “go around” the encampment for their own safety.”

The Brandeis Center alleges UW violated Title VI, which “prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in educational institutions that receive federal funding.”

The complaint demands that the US Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) investigate UW. It also suggested that the university enforce its policies against vandalism and have a zero tolerance policy, ensure that all students have equal access to the campus and be provided with a safe environment protected from harassment, discrimination, and harm.

The complaint also suggested UW work with local law enforcement to enhance security and protections for Jewish and Israeli students and issue a statement denouncing anti-Semitism in all its forms, including recognizing that anti-Zionism is a form of anti-Semitism.

University spokesperson Victor Balta told The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI that a statement was given to KOMO News in a response to the complaint that “The University of Washington is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all students, faculty and staff, and we are cooperating with the Office of Civil Rights as it investigates these complaints. We are in active discussions with OCR to resolve the matter and address the concerns these complaints have raised. While we are anticipating the Oct. 15 release of the final report and recommendations from the UW’s task forces on antisemitism and Islamophobia, we have taken steps to reiterate our community expectations and guidelines around freedom of expression.”

Balta added that “some allegations of alleged antisemitic behavior have been reported to us and referred to the appropriate investigative office at the UW. We encourage any Jewish student facing bias or harassment on campus to report it through our university bias or student conduct reporting tool.”