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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has determined that George Washington University (GWU) in Washington, D.C., violated federal civil rights protections by failing to address antisemitic harassment on campus.
The findings appeared in a letter sent on Tuesday to the school’s president.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet K. Dhillon informed GWU President Ellen M. Granberg of the decision. “Every student has the right to equal educational opportunities without fear of harassment or abuse,” Dhillon wrote. “No one is above the law, and universities that promulgate antisemitic discrimination will face legal consequences.”
The DOJ said GWU showed “deliberate indifference” to reports of antisemitic discrimination, misconduct, and harm to Jewish and Israeli students and faculty. Investigators found the university took “no meaningful action” to stop antisemitism.
This violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in federally funded institutions. If GWU fails to act, it could lose federal funding.
Harassment During Anti-Israel Encampment
The investigation cited a spring 2024 anti-Israel protest encampment in the University Yard at the center of campus. The DOJ said the encampment — along with other protests — aimed to “frighten” and “intimidate” Jewish students. As a result, Jewish students were harassed, intimidated, and in some cases assaulted. Some became too afraid to attend class.
Moreover, Jewish students consistently faced antisemitic slurs, including “Zionist go die,” “Zionists go to hell,” and “Hamas are freedom fighters.” According to the DOJ letter, an assistant dean then told a student to leave the area for “antagonizing and provoking the crowd.”
In another incident, protesters blocked a Jewish student who held an Israeli flag. A campus police officer advised him to leave for his safety.
The DOJ said these events, and the lack of an effective university response, created a hostile educational environment. It described the atmosphere as “objectively offensive, severe, and pervasive.” Some students feared being “caught” and physically beaten. The university received at least eight complaints of antisemitic discrimination tied to the protests.
DOJ Enforcement and University Response
GWU was one of ten colleges visited by the federal task force on combating antisemitism after a surge in campus incidents since October 2023. The DOJ said it will seek “immediate remediation” through a voluntary resolution agreement. However, the notice did not specify the terms. The university has until August 22 to begin talks before enforcement proceeds.
In its response, GWU confirmed it is reviewing the letter. “We have taken appropriate action under university policy and the law to hold individuals or organizations accountable, including during the encampment, and we do not tolerate behavior that threatens our community or undermines meaningful dialogue,” GWU spokesperson Shannon McClendon said. In addition, she noted that GWU had worked with members of the campus Jewish community, Jewish organizations, and city and federal authorities to address antisemitism.
The case underscores growing federal scrutiny of universities accused of fostering hostile environments for Jewish students amid surging campus antisemitism nationwide.
