A federal judge has ruled that the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) must develop a plan to ensure the safety of Jewish students following pro-Palestinian protests that occurred on campus a few months ago. The ruling comes after three Jewish students filed a lawsuit in June, claiming they faced discrimination during demonstrations related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. One of the students, Yitzchok Frankel, a Jewish law student at UCLA, stated that he felt unsafe declining to co-host a lunch gathering due to his Jewish identity.
Frankel expressed that his Jewish identity is essential to him and that he would typically be eager to participate in such events. Nonetheless, he believed that UCLA was not creating a secure environment for Jewish students on its premises. In response, UCLA’s spokesperson, Mary Osako, emphasized the school’s commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive campus and holding those responsible for violence accountable while combating antisemitism.
UCLA has reportedly been incorporating lessons from the spring protests into its efforts to promote a welcoming environment free from intimidation and discrimination. The university has been instructed to present a proposed plan by the next month to address the concerns raised regarding the safety of Jewish students. The demonstrations at UCLA were part of a broader movement at various campuses nationwide protesting the Israel-Hamas conflict. In one incident in May, law enforcement intervened and dispersed over a thousand protesters encamped on campus, following tensions that led to overnight clashes resulting in injuries among protesters. Subsequently, in June, multiple protesters were arrested on campus following attempts to establish a new encampment.
