Months after pro-Palestinian protests and encampments descended on campus, a federal judge has ordered that the University of California, Los Angeles, create a plan to support its Jewish students.
The Monday ruling comes after three Jewish students sued the school, claiming the institution failed to protect them from harassment during demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war this past spring.
"UCLA should have taken steps to ensure that its Jewish students were safe and protected from harassment and undeterred in obtaining full access to campus facilities," the complaint states. "Instead, UCLA officials routinely turned their backs on Jewish students, aiding and abetting a culture that has allowed calls for the annihilation of the Jewish people, Nazi symbolism, and religious slurs to go unchecked."
Between April and May, activists also constructed a so-called "Jew Exclusion Zone," the suit claimed, preventing Jewish students from accessing campus resources like classrooms and the library.
Following the ruling, UCLA spokesperson Mary Osako told the Associated Press that the school is "committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive campus, holding those who engaged in violence accountable, and combating antisemitism in all forms. ... We have applied lessons learned from this spring's protests and continue to work to foster a campus culture where everyone feels welcome and free from intimidation, discrimination and harassment."
The university was ordered to craft a proposed plan by August.
As Israel's 10-month conflict with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza continues, pro-Palestine protests and encampments have emerged on college campuses across the country. Faculty and students - including over a dozen from UCLA - have been arrested for participating in the gatherings and some institutions canceled graduation ceremonies in response.
At a joint meeting of Congress last week, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized those participating in anti-Israel protests.
"I have a message for these protesters: When the tyrants of Tehran who hang gays from cranes and murder women for not covering their hair are praising, promoting and funding you, you have officially become Iran's useful idiots," he said.
