The U.S. Department of Justice has informed leaders of Los Angeles and other cities about their efforts to combat anti-Semitic behavior on university campuses.
The newly appointed federal task force, created under President Trump’s executive order, has notified four major cities who want to meet mayors, district attorneys and law enforcement immediately to combat anti-Semitism.
Leo Terrell, a task force leader and senior adviser, has notified city leaders in New York, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles, and officials are considering allegations that the school failed to protect Jewish students from discrimination.
“Anti-Semitism, harassment, vandalism and violence do not have anywhere in our city,” a statement from Mayor Karen Bass said.
Terrell said the task force will “work together or separate and quickly and effectively identify ways we can return safety, courtesy and sanity to schools in the country.”
“I’m a Jewish student at UCLA. This was my first year and I couldn’t be satisfied with where I finished in school,” Benjamin Katz told KTLA’s Jean Kang. “I’m really relieved that this initiative is being implemented.”
UCLA Prime Minister Dr. Julio Frenk told the Bruins that their task force to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias would include strengthening training and education while ensuring improved complaints systems and enforcement of current and new laws and policies.
“Unfortunately, we see actions that argue that we are protecting students and stopping violence, but it appears that it hasn’t expanded to students who are Palestinian, Arab or Muslim.”
In a statement, Prime Minister Frenk said: “With honest reflection, we have made progress in dealing with anti-Semitism, but it is clear that more should be done to the common goal of eradicating it as a whole.”
Additionally, USC issued a statement saying: “The University has publicly and explicitly condemned anti-Semitism in all forms and has taken strong action to protect all students, including members of our Jewish community, from illegal discrimination of all kinds.”
Federal officials did not immediately specify when these task force meetings would occur with the Mayor of Base, but they said they wanted to move quickly.
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