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Judge Blocks Protesters From Hindering Jewish Students at UCLA

It's the first ruling against a university over Israel-Hamas war protests
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Aug 14, 2024 2:15 AM CDT
Judge Blocks Protesters From Hindering Jewish Students at UCLA
Tents sit in an encampment on the UCLA campus after clashes between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

A federal judge has ruled that the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) must ensure Jewish students are not impeded from accessing campus facilities by pro-Palestinian protesters. This decision marks the first instance of judicial intervention in college protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict this year. The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by three Jewish students in June that alleged discrimination and inadequate protection from the university.

US District Judge Mark Scarsi's judgment prohibits UCLA from holding classes or granting access to buildings if Jewish students face obstruction. He noted, "Jewish students were excluded from portions of the UCLA campus because they refused to denounce their faith." UCLA argued that the university itself wasn't responsible because protesters were doing the blocking, not the school; it also pointed to efforts with law enforcement to prevent new protest camps from being set up. However, the court found the university accountable for safeguarding student access.

Yitzchok Frankel, one of the plaintiffs, hailed the decision, stating, "No student should ever have to fear being blocked from their campus because they are Jewish." The university has not provided an immediate comment on the ruling. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

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