By Ricardo Roura
30 Jul 2024, 23:48 PM EDT
A federal judge on Monday ordered the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to protect its Jewish studentsso he has to come up with a plan to implement it, months after pro-Palestine protests occurred on the university campus.
In June, three Jewish students sued UCLAafter claiming that they suffered discrimination on campus amid protests against the war between Israel and Hamas.
Yitzchok Frankel, a law student at UCLA who is Jewish, said in the lawsuit that he turned down an invitation from the director of student life to help organize a lunch because he didn’t feel safe participating.
Keep reading: Police arrest at least 25 people for protests on UCLA campus
“Under normal circumstances, I would have jumped at the chance to participate in this event. My Jewish identity and religion are an integral part of who I am “And I think it’s important to mentor new students and encourage them to be proud of their Judaism as well,” Frankel said.
However, the law student argued that UCLA was not fostering a safe environment for Jewish students on campus.
Keep reading: UCLA academic workers strike over UC stance on pro-Palestine protests
UCLA spokeswoman Mary Osako said: The university was committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive campushold accountable those who participated in acts of violence and combat anti-Semitism in all its forms.
“We have applied the lessons learned from this spring’s protests and continue to work to foster a culture on campus where everyone feels welcome and free from bullying, discrimination and harassment“Osako said in a statement.
Keep reading: Police raid at UCLA against pro-Palestine camp
According to the federal judge’s instruction, UCLA must develop and have the plan by next month.
The demonstrations that occurred on the UCLA campus They became part of a movement in various universities across the country to protest the war between Israel and Hamas.
Keep reading: Group of protesters set up camp in support of Palestine at UCLA
At UCLA, law enforcement ordered in May that More than 1,000 protesters dismantled an encampment as tensions rose on campusCounter-protesters attacked the pro-Palestinian camp and at least 15 protesters were injured.
Dozens of protesters were arrested on campus in June after they attempted to set up a new camp at UCLA.
Keep reading:
· UCLA returns to in-person classes after weeks of pro-Palestine protests
· Protesters arrested in UCLA parking lot as university returns to remote classes
· More than 200 people arrested during the removal of the pro-Palestine camp at UCLA