{"id":2509782,"date":"2025-11-12T14:59:01","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T19:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-eyes-hate-crime-charges-for-uc-berkeley-protests-amid-civil-rights-probe\/"},"modified":"2025-11-12T15:02:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T20:02:11","slug":"doj-eyes-hate-crime-charges-for-uc-berkeley-protests-amid-civil-rights-probe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-eyes-hate-crime-charges-for-uc-berkeley-protests-amid-civil-rights-probe\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ eyes hate crime charges for UC Berkeley protests amid civil rights probe"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-eyes-hate-crime-charges-for-uc-berkeley-protests-amid-civil-rights-probe%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2509782&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering hate crime, conspiracy, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-derek-chauvin-agreed-to-plea-bargain-but-trump-ag-william-barr-rejected-deal\/\" title=\"Report: Derek Chauvin Agreed To Plea Bargain But ... AG William Barr Rejected Deal\">civil rights charges<\/a> following violent protests at the University of California, Berkeley, during a Turning Point USA event. Federal investigators are also examining whether university and local police officials failed to protect attendees adequately. The DOJ&#8217;s Civil Rights Division has ordered UC Berkeley officials to preserve all records related to the incident, including communications, use-of-force reports, and security footage. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon highlighted possible violations of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fox-news-panel-flames-lori-lightfoot-she-ought-to-declare-war-on-crime-rather-than-white-journalists\/\" title=\"Fox News Panel Flames Lori Lightfoot: \u2018She Ought To Declare War On Crime Rather Than White Journalists\u2019\">federal civil rights statutes<\/a>, including conspiracies to deprive constitutional rights and actions under hate crime laws.<\/p>\n<p>UC Berkeley stated it is cooperating fully with authorities and investigating the involvement of outside agitators. The FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force is involved, with Attorney General Pamela Bondi describing antifa as an &#8220;existential threat&#8221; and emphasizing the seriousness of the inquiry. The protests appear to have been coordinated by the antifa-linked group By Any Means Necessary (BAMN), which has a history of militant actions and was previously flagged by the FBI for terrorist activities. Protesters reportedly targeted conservative attendees and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk&#8217;s memory with insults and violence.<\/p>\n<p>Some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ap-urges-media-to-hold-off-on-pregnant-people-in-the-wake-of-roe-leak\/\" title=\"AP Urges Media To Hold Off On \u2018Pregnant People\u2019 In The Wake Of Roe Leak\">conservative commentators criticized<\/a> the federal government&#8217;s response as insufficient, urging stronger actions such as cutting UC Berkeley&#8217;s funding. Even tho antifa is designated as a domestic terrorist group by the Trump administration, no terrorism charges have yet been filed regarding this incident. Dhillon emphasized that the pattern of disruptions resembles terrorism and vowed a thorough investigation to identify and hold accountable those responsible for political violence on campus.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">DOJ eyes hate crime charges for UC Berkeley protests amid civil rights investigation<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2398809\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> is weighing conspiracy and civil rights charges after violent protests erupted Monday at the University of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\">California<\/a>, Berkeley, during a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/turning-point-usa\/\">Turning Point USA<\/a> event, as federal investigators are also scrutinizing whether university and police officials failed to protect attendees.<\/p>\n<p>The Civil Rights Division of the DOJ directed UC Berkeley Police Chief Yogananda Pittman and the university system president, James Milliken, to preserve all records related to the Monday incident, including officer communications, use-of-force reports, arrest logs, and security footage. Letters sent to both Pittman and Milliken on Tuesday by Assistant Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/harmeet-dhillon\/page\/4\/\">Harmeet Dhillon<\/a> cite possible violations of federal civil rights statutes and outline an expansive preservation order that could extend to both the university and Berkeley city police.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3883331\/letitia-james-james-comey-motion-fights-remove-lindsey-halligan\/\">Motion by Letitia James and James Comey cases fights to remove Lindsey Halligan<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3882987\/reagan-judge-mark-wolf-resigns-trump\/\">Reagan-appointed judge resigns to pursue anti-Trump activism<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3882795\/giuffre-family-blasts-ghislaine-maxwell-preferential-prison-treatment-slap-in-the-face\/\">Giuffre family blasts Ghislaine Maxwell&#8217;s preferential prison treatment as &#8216;slap in the face&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A protester is detained by police prior to a &ldquo;This Is the Turning Point&rdquo; campus tour event on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, at the University of California, Berkeley, in Berkeley, California. (AP Photo\/Noah Berger)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;We are determining whether recent events provide a basis for additional investigation of violations of federal rights, including, without limitation, violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendments,&rdquo; Dhillon wrote.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-federal-statutes-and-possible-charges\">Federal statutes and possible charges<\/h2>\n<p>Dhillon said in separate interviews with&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mollie_don\/status\/1988479754597527743\">Fox News<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AAGDhillon\/status\/1988582068776026127\">CNN<\/a>&nbsp;that her division is exploring charges under&nbsp;18 U.S.C. &sect;&sect; 241 and 242, which criminalize conspiracies to deprive individuals of constitutional rights and the deprivation of rights under color of law.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It could be 18-241 or 18-242 &mdash; we also have hate crime statutes that apply,&rdquo; Dhillon told Fox&rsquo;s Laura Ingraham. &ldquo;Some of the epithets hurled at members of the crowd made reference to their race and other protected characteristics. We&rsquo;re going to do a deep dive into all the potential criminal and civil aspects of this.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Dhillon added that beyond the actions of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/antifa\/\">antifa<\/a>-aligned protesters, investigators are examining whether the Berkeley administration or local police &ldquo;failed to equally protect conservative speakers,&rdquo; possibly triggering equal protection concerns under federal law.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-university-response-and-antifa-threat\">University response and antifa threat<\/h2>\n<p>UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof said the university is &ldquo;fully cooperating&rdquo; with federal authorities and conducting its own investigation &ldquo;to identify the outside agitators responsible.&rdquo; He said the event &ldquo;proceeded safely and without interruption&rdquo; despite isolated violence that led to at least three arrests.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There is no place at UC Berkeley for attempts to use violence or intimidation to prevent lawful expression or chill free speech,&rdquo; Mogulof said.<\/p>\n<p>The FBI-led&nbsp;Joint Terrorism Task Force&nbsp;is also participating in the investigation, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi, who described antifa as &ldquo;an existential threat to our nation&rdquo; in a post on X.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Antifa is an existential threat to our nation.<\/p>\n<p>The violent riots at UC Berkeley last night are under full investigation by the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force. We will continue to spare no expense unmasking all who commit and orchestrate acts of political violence.<\/p>\n<p>Under&hellip;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AGPamBondi\/status\/1988339354754769099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 11, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-antifa-involvement-prompts-calls-for-heightened-scrutiny-by-maga-base\">Antifa involvement prompts calls for heightened scrutiny by MAGA base<\/h2>\n<p>In response to the federal government&rsquo;s handling of the protest aftermath, some prominent Trump-aligned critics have questioned why there has not been more decisive action taken by the president against the antifa protesters who terrorized TPUSA supporters from the event.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Sadly, I don&rsquo;t think anyone takes this seriously,&rdquo; said political commentator Mike Cernovich in response to Bondi, adding that &ldquo;Trump has tools he can use&rdquo; that he is not currently using.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Sadly, I don&#8217;t think anyone takes this seriously. Trump has tools he can use. He could cut off funding to Berkley. He has chosen not to. This is another press release, but Trump is showing he doesn&#8217;t care, and is afraid of Gavin Newsom.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Cernovich (@Cernovich) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Cernovich\/status\/1988358988279525513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 11, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He could cut off funding to Berkley,&rdquo; Cernovich added. &ldquo;He has chosen not to. This is another press release, but Trump is showing he doesn&rsquo;t care, and is afraid of Gavin Newsom.&rdquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Cernovich\/status\/1988358988279525513\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Although the Trump administration designated antifa a domestic terrorist organization&nbsp;in September, no terrorism-related charges have yet been brought in connection with the Berkeley incident. The only <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >criminal case involving terrorism charges<\/a> for antifa so far involves <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3853827\/texas-antifa-members-indicted-on-terrorism-charges-for-ice-attack-first-time-ever\/\">two defendants indicted last month in Texas<\/a> under&nbsp;18 U.S.C. &sect; 2339A, for allegedly providing material support to terrorists following a July 4 attack on an ICE detention facility.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Protesters with signs stand outside a Turning Point USA event at the University of California, Berkeley on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, in Berkeley, California. (AP Photo\/Noah Berger)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>reported Tuesday that the UC Berkeley protest <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3883301\/antifa-behind-violent-counterprotest-against-tpusa-event-uc-berkeley\/\">appears to have been coordinated<\/a> by the antifa-linked group By Any Means Necessary, a far-left agitator coalition that circulated flyers urging followers to &ldquo;End Fascist Turning Point&rsquo;s Youth-Oriented Campaign of Incitement to Violence.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>BAMN&rsquo;s materials called TPUSA a &ldquo;white nationalist, neo-fascist organization&rdquo; and explicitly invoked militant action: &ldquo;Donald Trump&rsquo;s program for a fascist America must be defeated here and now at UC Berkeley!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A bloodied man who was distributing &ldquo;Freedom&rdquo; shirts is detained following a scuffle with a protester outside a Turning Point USA event at the University of California, Berkeley on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, in Berkeley, California. (AP Photo\/Noah Berger)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>During the protest, agitators reportedly mocked slain TPUSA founder <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/charlie-kirk\/\">Charlie Kirk<\/a>, chanting &ldquo;F*** your dead homie!&rdquo; and holding signs referencing his death. One attendee wearing a red &ldquo;Freedom&rdquo; shirt was assaulted and bloodied after being attacked while selling pro-TPUSA merchandise.<\/p>\n<p>BAMN, previously identified by the FBI in 2002 as &ldquo;thought to be involved in terrorist activities,&rdquo; has deep ties to Bay Area teachers unions and led similar riots during Trump&rsquo;s first term.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-dhillon-seeks-exhaustive-list-of-records\">Dhillon seeks exhaustive list of records<\/h2>\n<p>Dhillon, who previously represented conservative speakers in lawsuits against UC Berkeley after the 2017 riots, said the pattern of violent disruptions &ldquo;is no longer protest &mdash; it&rsquo;s terrorism.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What we have here is a terrorist organization allowed to run wild on an American campus funded by taxpayers,&rdquo; she told CNN. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s illegal, and we won&rsquo;t let it stand.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3883301\/antifa-behind-violent-counterprotest-against-tpusa-event-uc-berkeley\/\">ANTIFA BEHIND VIOLENT COUNTERPROTEST AGAINST TPUSA EVENT AT UC BERKELEY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Dhillon&rsquo;s letter to UC Berkeley Police suggests the federal review could expand significantly. Among the 18 categories of records sought are officer body camera footage, internal chat messages, incident action plans, and any &ldquo;declinations to pursue prosecution&rdquo; of those arrested.<\/p>\n<p>The department&rsquo;s investigation, she said, will &ldquo;spare no expense unmasking all who commit and orchestrate acts of political violence.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ considers hate crime charges after UC Berkeley protests<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2509783,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25315125705920.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[33274,7076,33338,3970,39505],"class_list":["post-2509782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-civil-rights","tag-doj","tag-hate-crime","tag-protests","tag-uc-berkeley"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25315125705920.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2509782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2509782"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2509782\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2509787,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2509782\/revisions\/2509787"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2509783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2509782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2509782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2509782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}