By Blake Wolf, OAN Staff
Tuesday, July 30, 2024 1:23 PM
A federal judge issued an order Monday requiring UCLA and its Jewish students to develop a plan to protect the rights of Jewish students. The request for UCLA to take action comes months after pro-Palestinian protests erupted on campus in April, resulting in hundreds of arrests.
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A lawsuit filed in June by three Jewish students against UCLA alleges that the pro-Palestinian camp violated their civil rights. They claim that Jewish students have been barred from certain areas of campus, including the camp’s site on Lois Quad.
“Please meet and negotiate to see whether we can craft an injunction or other court order with agreeable provisions that will give UCLA the flexibility it needs while providing reassurance to Jewish students on campus that their right to religious freedom will not be superseded by other rights,” U.S. District Judge Mark C. Scarsi said.
In the lawsuit, the students allege that UCLA helped establish “Jew-free zones” by erecting makeshift barriers around Jewish campsites and hiring private security guards to keep Jewish students off the campsites.
UCLA lawyers dispute this claim, arguing that student protesters, not the university itself, blocked access.
UCLA is “committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive campus, holding accountable those who engage in violent acts, and combating all forms of anti-Semitism,” spokesperson Mary Osako said in a statement. “We will use lessons learned from the protests this spring and continue to work to foster a campus culture where everyone feels welcome and free from intimidation, discrimination and harassment.”
The encampment at UCLA, set up by pro-Palestinian student activists, lasted a week and led to violent clashes with counter-protesters and hundreds of arrests.
“Going forward, Chancellor Drake is working closely with UC presidents to learn from the events of the past few months and to ensure system-wide consistency in how key policies are implemented and enforced,” the UC Chancellor’s Office said.
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