After Antisemitism Task Force Announcement, UCLA Suspends SJP

After months of inaction, UCLA has finally suspended its chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), following a series of violent and threatening incidents targeting Jewish students and university officials. The move comes shortly after the Trump administration launched a federal task force to combat antisemitism on college campuses.

The tipping point appears to have been an aggressive protest on February 5, when individuals affiliated with SJP and other groups harassed UC Regent Jonathan Sures and his family at their home. Protesters surrounded a family member’s vehicle, preventing them from leaving, and vandalized the property with red handprints while chanting threatening slogans, including “Jonathan Sures, you will pay, until you see your final day.”

In a statement, UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk condemned the incident, saying, “No one should ever fear for their safety. Without the basic feeling of safety, humans cannot learn, teach, work and live.” However, Jewish students and community members have been violently attacked for months, with UCLA previously failing to act against the perpetrators.

The timing of UCLA’s decision is notable. Just days before, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the creation of a federal task force to address antisemitism in schools and universities. Senior Counsel Leo Terrell, who will lead the task force, made it clear that the federal government will hold universities accountable. “We’re going to cut off their funding. We’re going to take criminal action against those protesters,” Terrell said.

For months, SJP activists at UCLA have physically assaulted Jewish students, blocked them from campus spaces, and openly celebrated the October 7 Hamas attacks. Despite overwhelming evidence, university officials failed to act until now.

The suspension of SJP is only an interim measure and does little to address the deeper issue of antisemitism at UCLA. However, it signals that the university is feeling the pressure. With federal scrutiny increasing, more institutions may soon be forced to follow suit.

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