The Trump administration on Friday filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, accusing the Ivy League institution of allowing anti-Semitism to persist on its campus. Filed in a Massachusetts federal court, the complaint alleges that Jewish and Israeli students have been harassed, physically assaulted, and subjected to a hostile environment with little to no intervention from the university.
According to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) filing, Harvard failed to address numerous anti-Semitic incidents, including students being blocked from entering buildings, being spat upon, and hearing chants such as “Heil Hitler” during protests. Notably, the legal action also seeks to classify certain pro-Hamas protest chants, such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” as calls for violence against Jewish people. The Trump administration claims that these actions violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin at federally funded institutions.
Harvard has responded by defending its actions, stating that it has implemented measures to combat anti-Semitism, including enhanced training and education, as well as programs promoting civil dialogue. A university spokesman described the lawsuit as “yet another pretextual and retaliatory action by the administration for refusing to turn over control of Harvard to the federal government.”
This latest DOJ lawsuit is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to address alleged anti-Semitism at major universities. Unlike other institutions such as Columbia and Northwestern, Harvard has refused to reach a negotiated settlement with the administration. The university has also faced other legal challenges, including a recent lawsuit over its admissions records and accusations of failing to comply with the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action.