A federal court in California ruled on Wednesday that the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) must not allow pro-Palestinian protesters to block Jewish students from accessing various parts of the campus. This landmark decision represents the first instance of a judge ruling against pro-Palestinian demonstrators and requiring institutions to ensure access for Jewish and Zionist students.
In his pivotal ruling, Judge Mark Scarsi wrote, "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 portions of the UCLA campus because they refused to denounce their faith."
Video: The LAPD removes pro-Palestinian protesters from the UCLA campus. Credit: Reuters
UCLA contended that it held no legal responsibility in the matter, arguing that it was the protesters, not the university, who prevented Jewish students from entering campus grounds. The institution also claimed to have collaborated with the Los Angeles Police Department in attempts to curb demonstrations. However, the judge ruled that the university is legally prohibited from utilizing classrooms and conducting classes on campus if Jewish students are unable to access the premises.
Yitzchok Frankel, a law student at UCLA and one of the three plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the university, marked the ruling with a modest celebration. "No student should ever have to fear being blocked from their campus because they are Jewish. I am grateful that the court has ordered UCLA to put a stop to this shameful anti-Jewish conduct," Frankel stated in a brief statement.
In response to the ruling, UCLA officials argued that it "would improperly hamstring our ability to respond to events on the ground and to meet the needs of the Bruin community."
