UC System Settles Antisemitism Lawsuit for $6.45 Million

The University of California System Settles Antisemitism Case for $6.45 Million

The University of California system has agreed to pay $6.45 million to settle a lawsuit involving allegations of antisemitism on the UCLA campus. This settlement comes after Jewish individuals at UCLA were reportedly barred from certain areas of the campus by pro-Palestinian protesters who had set up a “solidarity encampment.” The case highlights concerns about the university’s response to the exclusion of Jewish students and faculty.

As part of the settlement, three Jewish students and one professor who filed the lawsuit will each receive $200,000. Additional funds will be distributed to organizations that focus on combating antisemitism, with $2.33 million going to those groups. A portion of the settlement, $320,000, will also be allocated to UCLA’s Initiative to Combat Antisemitism. The remaining amount will cover legal fees associated with the case.

Yitzchok Frankel, a recent graduate of UCLA Law School and one of the plaintiffs, expressed his disappointment in the university’s handling of the situation. He stated, “When antisemites were terrorizing Jews and excluding them from campus, UCLA chose to protect the thugs and help keep Jews out.” Frankel emphasized that the court’s judgment brings justice back to the campus and ensures that Jewish students will once again feel safe and treated equally.

UCLA faced criticism for supporting the pro-Palestinian protesters and defending its actions in court for over a year before reaching the settlement. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represented the plaintiffs, described the case as a significant step forward in the fight against antisemitism.

Mark Rienzi, president and attorney at the Becket Fund, said, “Campus administrators across the country willingly bent the knee to antisemites during the encampments.” He added that the case serves as a warning to universities: treating Jews as second-class citizens is not only wrong but also illegal and costly. Rienzi praised UCLA for accepting the judgment and setting a precedent that mistreatment of Jews violates constitutional and civil rights laws.

In April 2024, pro-Palestinian protesters established an encampment on campus, aiming to pressure the university to boycott and divest from Israeli companies. As a result, two campus buildings near the encampment were closed, effectively creating what some described as “Jew-free zones” on campus.

One plaintiff shared their experience, stating that they could not access the library because of the risk of violence associated with traversing the encampment. Another Jewish student explained that she avoided Royce Quad due to the requirement to disavow her religious beliefs to pass through.

Despite UCLA’s public commitment to fostering a welcoming environment free from intimidation and discrimination, Los Angeles Federal District Court Judge Mark C. Scarsi issued a preliminary injunction in August 2024. In his ruling, he condemned the university’s behavior, calling it “unimaginable and so abhorrent.”

Judge Scarsi noted that Jewish students were excluded from parts of the campus because they refused to denounce their faith. He pointed out that UCLA did not dispute this claim but instead argued that it was not responsible for protecting the religious freedom of its students since the exclusion was caused by third-party protesters. However, Scarsi emphasized that under constitutional principles, the university cannot allow services to some students if others are being excluded based on their religion, regardless of who caused the exclusion.

The settlement marks the largest known private settlement in a campus antisemitism case, according to the Becket Fund. This development underscores the growing awareness and legal consequences surrounding antisemitism on college campuses.