Ruling Marks First Legal Action Against University Over Campus Demonstrations on Israel-Hamas Conflict
A federal judge has ruled that UCLA must ensure Jewish students’ access to campus is not blocked by pro-Palestinian protests. The ruling, issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi, is the first of its kind related to the Israel-Hamas conflict‘s impact on college campuses.
The injunction stems from a lawsuit filed in June by three Jewish students who claimed they faced discrimination during protests due to their faith. The students argued that UCLA failed to protect their right to access campus facilities.
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“In the year 2024, in the United States of America, in the State of California, in the City of Los Angeles, Jewish students were excluded from portions of the UCLA campus because they refused to denounce their faith,” Judge Scarsi wrote.
Ruling Prohibits UCLA From Holding Classes If Not Accessible to Jewish Students
UCLA contended that it bore no legal responsibility for the protesters’ actions and had collaborated with law enforcement to prevent further disruptions. However, Scarsi’s ruling prohibits the university from holding classes or allowing access to campus buildings if Jewish students are blocked from entering.
UCLA spokesperson Mary Osako responded to the ruling, stating, “UCLA is committed to fostering a campus culture where everyone feels welcome and free from intimidation, discrimination, and harassment.”
Order Already In Place to Develop Plan to Protect Jewish Students
This ruling follows Judge Scarsi’s earlier order for UCLA to develop a plan to protect Jewish students. The University of California system, to which UCLA belongs, is also working on creating guidelines for handling protests across its campuses.
