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UCLA Tuesday reached a $6 million settlement after three Jewish students and Jewish professors alleged that the university committed discrimination and violated civil rights by allowing Palestinian camps to block access to campus areas.
When campus protests broke out at universities across the country in the spring of 2024, UCLA was accused of allowing protesters to set up camps that physically hinder Jewish students and faculty (particularly when they were wearing clothes and accessories indicating Jewish faith), they were unable to access the main library, classrooms and other campus locations.
UCLA is also said to have strengthened the pro-Palestinian zone by providing metal barriers and sending Jewish students and faculty members.
In response to the complaint, UCLA initially denied its obligation to protect Jewish students.
The $6.13 million settlement will be used to make donations to eight Jewish organizations while paying each plaintiff for damages and legal costs.
Also, as part of the agreement, UCLA will be prevented from organizing efforts and campaigns to exclude Jewish students and school employees.
The university said it was satisfied with the terms of the settlement, and said the agreement reflected “real progress” against anti-Semitism.
“Anti-Semitism, harassment, and other forms of intimidation are at odds with our values and we have no place at the University of California. We are clear about where we are lacking and we are committed to improving moving forward.” “Today’s settlement reflects a very important goal we share with the plaintiffs: to foster a safe, safe and inclusive environment for all members of our community and ensure that there is no room for anti-Semitism anywhere on campus.”
On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and subsequent wars resulted in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on university campuses around the country.
According to the plaintiffs, many activists were hidden, using checkpoints, issued wristbands, creating barriers, and often aligned their arms to prevent Jewish students from passing.
The UCLA administration is aware of these practices and has chosen to last them, the lawsuit said. Rather than clearing the camp, the lawsuit alleges that UCLA has directed security staff to discourage unauthorized students from trying to cross areas blocked by activists.
“When anti-Jews terrified Jews and removed them from campus, UCLA chose to protect thugs and help keep Jews out,” said Yitzchok Frankel, a recent UCLA law alumnus. But today’s court ruling brings justice to our campus and ensures that Jews are safe and treated equally again. ”
The settlement comes after U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi ordered UCLA to halt support anti-Semitic agitators who established the “Jewish Exclusion Zone” on campus, preventing Jews from accessing classes, libraries and other important areas of the campus.
Instead of ensuring safe passage of Jews on campus, student lawyer Mark Lienzi said UCLA’s actions in catering to agitators were recorded in a report submitted by UCLA’s own task force to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias. The report acknowledged that UCLA promoted an anti-Semitic environment, denounced the university’s own actions as “effective or structural anti-Semitism,” and failed its legal obligation to protect the First Amendment to the free exercise of religion, the lawyer said.
Police eventually demolished the UCLA camp with accommodation where more than 200 people were arrested.
Protesters accused officials of ignoring violent attacks on the camp by rebels on April 30, 2024, and immediately arrested Palestinians of sympathetic people.
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