Federal Judge Rules Against UCLA In Pro-Palestinian Protest Case

Pro-Palestinian students take part in a protest in support of the Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, at Columbia University in New York City

A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction against the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), prohibiting pro-Palestinian protesters from blocking Jewish students' access to classes and campus facilities. This ruling is significant as it is the first time a US judge has ruled against a university regarding demonstrations related to the Israel-Hamas conflict on college campuses.

The lawsuit, filed by three Jewish students at UCLA in June, alleged that the students faced discrimination based on their faith during the protests and that UCLA failed to ensure access to campus for all Jewish students. US District Judge Mark Scarsi emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that in 2024, Jewish students were excluded from parts of the UCLA campus for not denouncing their faith.

While UCLA argued that it was not responsible for the actions of the protesters, Judge Scarsi's ruling mandates that the university must provide classes and access to buildings on campus without any hindrance to Jewish students. The university had also collaborated with law enforcement to prevent the establishment of new protest camps on campus.

Yitzchok Frankel, one of the UCLA law students who filed the lawsuit, expressed relief at the court's decision, emphasizing that no student should face exclusion from campus due to their religious beliefs.

Ruling prohibits blocking Jewish students' access to classes and facilities.

Federal judge issues preliminary injunction against UCLA protesters.

Lawsuit filed by three Jewish students alleging discrimination based on faith.

UCLA spokesperson Mary Osako acknowledged the ruling but raised concerns about its impact on the university's ability to respond to on-campus events. She reiterated UCLA's commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive campus environment free from discrimination and harassment.

Prior to this ruling, Judge Scarsi had directed UCLA to develop a plan to safeguard Jewish students, and the University of California system is working on comprehensive campus guidelines for handling protests across its campuses.

The protests at UCLA were part of a broader movement on college campuses nationwide in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Tensions escalated on the UCLA campus in May, leading to law enforcement dispersing a large protest encampment. Subsequent attempts to establish new encampments resulted in arrests and injuries among protesters.