No One Should Help UCLA Dodge Consequences. Especially Not Jewish Organizations.

This past May, I graduated from UCLA Law — not as your typical student, but as a father of four who proudly wore T-shirts with American and Israeli flags every day since October 7, 2023, to show my appreciation for America and my support of Zionism. After enduring firsthand antisemitism and religious discrimination, I sued. While sitting for the Bar this past July, I settled with UCLA for a permanent injunction and $6.13 million (In honor of the 613 commandments in the Torah). That same day, the Justice Department found UCLA in violation of federal civil rights laws. As Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon noted, “UCLA failed to take timely and appropriate action in response to credible claims of harm and hostility on its campus.”

I’m grateful for the federal government’s swift investigation and actions, including freezing $584 million in grants and proposing a $1.2 billion fine, which have begun to hold UCLA accountable. This past week a federal judge’s preliminary injunction temporarily restored most of those NIH and NSF grants amid an ongoing lawsuit, this short-term reprieve doesn’t absolve the university’s civil rights violations or halt the push for lasting penalties.

Yet, lawsuits from UC unions and statements from California officials, alongside criticism from some Jewish groups calling these efforts ‘misguided and punitive,’ sow cynicism about the real threats Jewish students face. Article after article and statement upon statement claim efforts to hold UCLA accountable have nefarious motivations and won’t protect Jewish students. The irony is that not holding UCLA accountable for persistent failure to address antisemitism is what truly endangers Jewish students. To those who stayed silent when Jews were excluded from campus areas and mobs called for “Intifada”: kindly sit this one out.

We can debate the details and methods for addressing UCLA’s abhorrent antisemitism, but one thing is clear: UCLA’s sidestepping shouldn’t fool anyone. They’re ignoring antisemitism, rather than confronting it head-on.

Even more troubling: Why are some Jewish organizations providing cover for UCLA? Ask Jewish student leaders on campus, and they’ll tell you only a handful of legacy groups have been helpful. It’s bad enough that some did nothing to empower students; now, they’re undermining our efforts.

Credit: Yitzy Frankel

From personal experience, I can spotlight one: the Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC). My friend Shabbos Kestenbaum and I met with SWC leaders, including the CEO, but nothing came of it. Now, they’ve “proudly” signed a letter just last month with the Jewish Public Affairs Committee (JPAC) opposing the federal funding freeze and penalty, claiming it “does not make Jewish students safer” (Blind to the reality that perhaps it’s unchecked antisemitism that is making campus unsafe for Jewish students). When I contacted them about how their support spreads lies and misinformation — directly harming Jewish students and covering up antisemitism — I got no response. SWC’s credibility is now being weaponized to shield antisemites, offering silent consent to UCLA’s inaction instead of demanding real change.

The JPAC statement SWC endorses claims “meaningful progress is underway.” Here’s the reality:

1. Governor Newsom’s “Golden State Plan to Combat Antisemitism“: This April 2024 pamphlet mentions “Islamophobia,” “Arab Americans,” “anti-Arab,” “anti-Muslim,” and “Muslim” a combined 24 times across 16 pages—undermining the supposed focus on antisemitism. It’s mostly fluff about councils making recommendations and commissions assessing data, and it’s proven ineffective at UCLA.
2. A Letter from the UC President: It supposedly bans encampments, masking to conceal identity, and blocking campus access, while enforcing time, place, and manner restrictions. But encampments were already illegal, students are never asked to unmask, and rules are openly flouted, with little to no real enforcement.
3. Praise for Chancellor Frenk: He “established a dedicated antisemitism initiative, suspended student groups fostering hostility toward Jews, and delivered forceful remarks.” In truth, Frenk offers empty words. His only action against SJP followed their protest at a Jewish regent’s literal doorstep, harassing him and his family. In June 2024, UCLA’s Administrative Vice Chancellor, Michael Beck, needed security guards to fend off a masked mob — protection not extended to students.

That suspension? Meaningless. Less than two weeks later, SJP held another rally in the same spot as the encampment, complete with drums, megaphones, masks, and a poster glorifying Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. They marched through an academic building, pulled a fire alarm to evacuate classes, blocked streets, and assaulted people — including elbowing me and stealing my USA/Israel flag from a friend nearby — in front of UCLA security.

This was one of many violations, including a grotesque 2024 rally on the anniversary of October 7. After these rallies, their gear is wheeled to the Muslim Student Association as security turns a blind eye and chases off journalists like Cam Higby. UCLA’s “response”? Sending Student Affairs Monitors to gently “cajole” the mob into compliance.

I know UCLA’s apathy firsthand: UCLA refused to help press charges against encampment participants or discipline any students or faculty. As Andy Ngo reported, a law student, Taylor “Sanyika” Maloney, remains an enrolled student despite assaulting pro-Israel protesters on camera — including harassing me. She celebrated the murder of Charlie Kirk, openly supported Hamas, and advocated for killing cops. Because UCLA stonewalled law enforcement, the LA City Attorney dropped charges against her and dozens more.

If UCLA truly cared, it would adopt recommendations from the Jewish Faculty Resilience Group (JFRG) as a baseline. Instead, this grassroots powerhouse, which has been at the forefront of fighting antisemitism at UCLA, has been ignored and retaliated against.

Donors to large Jewish organizations: Don’t ask them what they’re doing for students — ask students what they’ve done for us. Support groups that students and faculty vouch for.

UCLA’s environment silences pro-Israel voices. In May 2024, they blocked a pro-Israel speaker, as the Daily Wire reported. The Daily Wire knows UCLA’s tactics: In 2017, they dropped an unconstitutional “security fee” for Ben Shapiro’s event. In 2024, I had the honor of introducing Ben Shapiro to a packed crowd (with hundreds outside), despite UCLA’s obstacles.

As a father of four children under eight — equal parts adorable and mischievous — I know misbehavior doesn’t change without consequences. Federal cuts and penalties are forcing change; they must continue despite lawsuits and smears. Research grants matter, but they should go to institutions that uphold civil rights, not violate them. Other universities, take note: Defy accountability, and pay the price.

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Yitzy Frankel graduated from UCLA Law in May 2025 and now works in criminal defense litigation with renowned trial attorney Michael D. Schwartz. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Esther, and four young children. You can follow him on X @YitZionist.

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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