A federal judge has ordered the University of California, Los Angeles, to develop a plan to protect Jewish students
LOS ANGELES — A federal judge on Monday ordered the University of California, Los Angeles, to develop a plan to protect Jewish students, months after pro-Palestinian protests broke out on campus.
Three Jewish students sued the university in June, alleging they experienced discrimination on campus during demonstrations against the war between Israel and Hamas. Yitzchok Frankel, a UCLA law student who is Jewish, said in the lawsuit that he turned down an invitation from the director of student life to help organize a luncheon because he did not feel safe attending.
“Under normal circumstances, I would have jumped at the chance to participate in this event,” Frankel said. “My Jewish identity and religion are inextricably linked to who I am, and I believe it is important to mentor incoming students and encourage them to be proud of their Judaism as well.”
However, Frankel argued that UCLA failed to create a safe environment for Jewish students on campus.
UCLA spokeswoman Mary Osako said the school “is committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive campus, holding those responsible for violence accountable, and combating anti-Semitism in all forms.”
“We have put into practice the lessons learned from this spring’s protests and continue to work to create a campus culture where everyone feels welcome and free from intimidation, discrimination and bullying,” Osako said in a statement.
The university was instructed to present a plan proposal by next month at the latest.
The demonstrations at UCLA became part of a Movement on campuses across the country against the war between Israel and Hamas. At UCLA in May, police ordered more than a thousand protesters to break camp as tensions on campus rose. Counter-protesters had attacked the camp overnight, and at least 15 protesters were injured. In June, dozens of protesters on campus were arrested after they tried to set up a new camp.