US dismisses complaint regarding anti-Jewish protests at UC Berkeley

The U.S. Department of Education said it has dismissed a complaint alleging that anti-Israel protests at UC Berkeley created an illegal hostile atmosphere. The department's civil rights office said it determined that the campus protests last year against the treatment of Palestinians might be upsetting to Jewish people, but do not constitute harassment, the Los Angeles Times reported. The decision comes after a yearlong investigation, which also probed other incidents, such as the defacement of a sign of Jewish organization. The department found that there was not enough evidence that the college should have responded more forcefully. The investigation came after two graduates filed charges. They alleged that the protest and other events supported anti-Semitic beliefs and that the school did nothing to deter it. UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks said he was pleased by the final report. "The campus takes great pride in its vibrant Jewish community and in the many academic and cultural opportunities available to members of that community and others interested in its history and culture," he said. San Francisco attorney Joel H. Siegal, who filed the complaint with the department, said he was considering filing an appeal of the decision, the Times reported.