UCLA Cannot Allow Protesters to Block Jewish Students on Campus, Judge Rules

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the University of California, Los Angeles cannot allow pro-Palestinian protesters to block Jewish students’ access to classes and other parts of the campus.

The injunction marks the first time a U.S. judge has ruled against a university because of demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war on college campuses earlier this year.

U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi’s ruling came in a lawsuit filed in June by three Jewish UCLA students. The students alleged that they suffered discrimination on campus during the protest because of their faith and that UCLA failed to guarantee access to campus for all Jewish students.

“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 parts of the UCLA campus because they refused to denounce their faith.” Scarsi wrote.

UCLA has argued that it has no legal responsibility over the issue because protesters, not the university, blocked Jewish students from accessing the school. The university also worked with law enforcement to thwart attempts to create new protest camps.

Scarsi ruled that the university is prohibited from offering classes and access to campus buildings if access to Jewish students is blocked.

Yitzchok Frankel, the UCLA law student who filed the lawsuit, celebrated the order.

“No student should have to fear being denied entry to their campus because they are Jewish,” Frankel said in a statement. “I am grateful that the court ordered UCLA to put an end to this shameful anti-Jewish conduct.”

UCLA spokeswoman Mary Osako said the decision “would unduly harm our ability to respond to local events and meet the needs of the Bruin community.”

The university is also considering all options available in the future, she said.

“UCLA is committed to promoting a campus culture where everyone feels welcome and free from bullying, discrimination and harassment,” Osako said in a statement to the Associated Press.

The decision came after Scarsi ordered UCLA last month create a plan to protect Jewish students. The University of California, one of the largest public university systems in the country, is also working on guidelines for systemwide protests.

The demonstrations at UCLA became part of a movement on campuses across the country against the Israel-Hamas war. At UCLA, authorities in May ordered more than a thousand protesters to break your camp as tensions rose on campus. Counter-protesters attacked the camp overnight and at least 15 protesters suffered injuries. In June, dozens of protesters on campus were arrested after they tried to set up a new camp.