DOJ Sues UCLA Over Alleged Discrimination Against Jewish and Israeli Students

The Department of Justice has initiated legal proceedings against UCLA. The lawsuit alleges the university failed to protect Jewish and Israeli students from discrimination and violence. During a protest in 2024, agitators reportedly attacked students with beatings and pepper spray. Human rights attorney Brooke Goldstein discussed the politicization of antisemitism.

In other education-related news, a Massachusetts middle school principal faces controversy. Principal Dr. Johnny Cole of Diamond Middle School issued an apology after Holocaust education left some students feeling “unseen.” An email shared by the advocacy group StopAntisemitism prompted public criticism.

“Some of you felt like your own history, your identity, or your community was left out or erased. Some of you left that session feeling less safe, not more. We have heard this from families, and we believe you,” Cole wrote. “We are sorry. Not because the topic was too hard; hard conversations are part of growing up and part of what we do here at Diamond. We are sorry because every one of you deserves to walk into this school and feel that who you are matters — Arab students; Jewish students; Lebanese students; Muslim students; Palestinian students — every student. And in this case, we missed the mark and did not achieve what we hoped to do.”

Dr. Cole plans to collaborate with teachers and families to enhance the program. He aims to create a curriculum that includes all communities and histories. Some students will participate in designing the new program.

Critics argue Holocaust education should not aim to comfort students. StopAntisemitism stated that understanding the Holocaust is essential to learning about antisemitism. The group emphasized the need for schools to defend historical facts rather than retreat from them. They warned that neglecting this responsibility could lead to widespread misinformation in the U.S.

Fox News analyst Guy Benson criticized Cole’s apology, suggesting Holocaust education should focus on historical truths rather than students’ emotions. Israeli activist Hen Mazzig also opposed apologizing for Holocaust lessons, arguing educational content must not sacrifice factual integrity.

Cole has not responded to requests for further comments. His email did not identify specific points from the Holocaust lesson that caused the concerns.

The apology controversy coincides with another incident involving the principal. He reportedly asked a student to remove a sweatshirt featuring the message “Save the bees. Plant more trees. Clean the seas. Punch Nazis.” The student, Teagan Murtagh, a Holocaust survivor’s great-granddaughter, viewed it as principal’s overreach and wrote about it in The Lexington Observer.

Murtagh’s letter emphasized her family’s history and her efforts to resist perceived censorship at school through continued demonstrations.