US Justice Department Declares Antisemitism a National Crisis
Assistant Attorney General Harmit Dhillon labeled the rise of antisemitism in the US a national crisis. The DOJ is investigating over 100 educational institutions and has reached settlements worth nearly $500 million.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmit Dhillon has defined the rise of antisemitism in the United States as a "national crisis," making it clear that combating the phenomenon remains one of the Justice Department's highest priorities. Speaking to the Israeli-American community in San Diego, she outlined a series of enforcement actions against universities and institutions across the country.
"The rise in antisemitism is not a wave of isolated incidents. This is a national crisis that demands national resolve."
According to Dhillon, the Civil Rights Division is operating "with speed, focus, and determination" against discrimination, harassment, and antisemitic violence.
Action Against Elite Universities
Dhillon highlighted lawsuits against elite institutions, including Harvard and UCLA, alongside settlements totaling nearly half a billion dollars with universities such as Columbia, Northwestern, Cornell, and Brown.
She noted that the Department of Justice is currently investigating more than 100 educational institutions for suspected civil rights violations. In several cases, evidence was found of policies that contributed to creating an antisemitic climate.
Deploying Federal Authority
Dhillon added that the department is also pursuing legal actions outside of college campuses. These include a case against a cafe that allegedly refused service to Jewish customers, as well as indictments for violence and antisemitic hate crimes in several states.
"When a Jewish person is attacked because they are Jewish, that is a federal crime, and we will deploy the full power of the federal government."
She emphasized that the DOJ is utilizing federal tools to counter discrimination against Orthodox Jewish communities and protect worshippers in synagogues and religious institutions. Enforcement efforts extend beyond campuses to workplaces, public spaces, and houses of worship.
Concluding her remarks, Dhillon urged community members to continue reporting incidents and cooperating with investigations, pledging to use every available federal tool to combat antisemitism.
