Colorado Advisory Committee Releases Report Examining Allegations of Antisemitism on the Auraria Campus in Denver

The Colorado Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Committee) has released its report, Examining the Presence and/or Absence of Antisemitism on the Auraria Campus in Denver during the 2024 encampment. This report aims to contribute to more informed approaches to federal, state, and education policy in higher education as it relates to incidents of antisemitism.

The Committee gathered testimony from subject-matter experts and stakeholders, including researchers, academics, advocates, government officials, and impacted individuals, through a series of public briefings conducted between the Summer and Fall of 2025. The Committee determined that some protesters’ speech was antisemitic during the encampment, and Jewish students were excluded from participation in and denied the benefits of federally funded programs and activities. Additionally, the Denver government denied the Auraria community equal protection of the laws in contravention of the Fourteenth Amendment. 

The report offers the Committee’s recommendations for corrective action directed to stakeholders including the U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Education, educational institutions, and student or faculty groups. Among the recommendations, the Committee asks the U.S. Department of Education to develop resources to advisory institutions of higher education about self-defense against mobs that violate school rules and civil rights. 

Committee Chair Alvina Earnhart said, “We are committed to ensuring that our institutions of higher learning are places where all students feel safe, respected, and free to fully participate in academic life. Our Committee’s investigation into allegations of antisemitism at the Auraria Campus in Denver is not only timely, but essential. We must distinguish between protected speech and conduct that violates civil rights, and we must hold our public institutions accountable when they fall short. This project reflects our deep commitment to safeguarding both civil rights and freedom of expression. We aim to bring forward the voices of those impacted, examine the role of campus policies and leadership, and offer thoughtful, actionable recommendations that uphold the core principles of equality, safety, and constitutional freedoms.”