UCLA ordered by judge to develop plan to support Jewish students

A federal judge ordered the University of California, Los Angeles to come up with a plan to protect Jewish students

LOS ANGELES – A federal judge on Monday ordered the University of California, Los Angeles to come up with a plan to protect Jewish students, months after pro-Palestinian protests began on campus.

Three Jewish students sued the university in June, alleging they suffered discrimination on campus during demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war. Yitzchok Frankel, a UCLA law student who is Jewish, said in the lawsuit that he declined 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 opportunity to participate in this event,” Frankel said. “My Jewish identity and religion are an integral part of who I am, and I believe it is important to mentor new students and encourage them to be proud of their Judaism as well.”

But Frankel argued that UCLA was failing to promote 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 accountable those who engage in violence, and combating anti-Semitism in all forms.”

“We have applied the lessons learned from this spring’s protests and continue to work to promote a campus culture where everyone feels welcome and free from bullying, discrimination and harassment,” Osako said in a statement.

The University has been ordered to come up with a proposed plan by next month.

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.