UCLA settles for $6 million in protest discrimination case

Overview of the Settlement and Legal Disputes at UCLA

In a significant legal development, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) reached a $6 million settlement with three Jewish students and a Jewish professor. The lawsuit alleged that the university violated their civil rights by allowing pro-Palestinian protesters to block their access to classes and other campus areas in 2024. This case marked a pivotal moment in U.S. legal history, as it was the first time a judge ruled against a university over its handling of on-campus demonstrations related to Israel’s war in Gaza.

The settlement came nearly a year after a preliminary injunction was issued, which highlighted the university's failure to address concerns raised by Jewish students and faculty. UCLA had previously argued that it was not legally responsible for the actions of protesters, claiming that the demonstrators themselves were the ones blocking access to campus areas. Additionally, the university worked with law enforcement to prevent the establishment of new protest camps.

However, U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi rejected this argument, ordering UCLA to develop a plan to protect Jewish students on campus. As part of this effort, the University of California system introduced system-wide guidelines on managing protests. The way the university handled the dispersal of a pro-Palestinian encampment in the spring of 2024 drew widespread criticism. On one night, counterprotesters attacked the encampment, leading to a violent confrontation involving traffic cones and pepper spray, resulting in more than a dozen injuries before police intervened. The following day, hundreds of people ignored orders to leave, leading to over 200 arrests.

Trump Administration Joins the Lawsuit

In March, the Trump administration joined the lawsuit filed by Jewish students and a Jewish professor. This move came alongside new investigations into allegations of antisemitism at several universities, including Columbia University, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, and Portland State University.

Last week, Columbia University agreed to pay $200 million as part of a settlement to resolve investigations into alleged violations of federal antidiscrimination laws and to restore more than $400 million in research grants. The Trump administration plans to use this deal as a template for future agreements with other universities, setting a precedent for financial penalties as an expectation in such cases.

DOJ Finds UCLA Violated Civil Rights

On Tuesday, the Trump administration announced that the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division found UCLA violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The findings stated that UCLA acted with deliberate indifference in creating a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division emphasized that UCLA failed to take timely and appropriate action in response to credible claims of harm and hostility on its campus. While the university has expressed its commitment to campus safety and stated it will continue to implement recommendations, it did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the settlement or the DOJ announcement.

Ensuring Equal Access for All Students

As part of the settlement agreement, UCLA must ensure that Jewish students, faculty, and staff are not excluded from any campus activities. The $6.13 million settlement will cover the plaintiffs’ damages and legal fees, with a portion allocated to eight Jewish organizations.

Pro-Palestinian Protesters Also Sue the University

A group of 35 pro-Palestinian students, faculty members, legal observers, journalists, and activists have also filed a lawsuit against UCLA, alleging that the university failed to protect those involved in the demonstrations. Some Jewish students have participated in protests across the country against Israel’s war in Gaza.

During the 2014 protests at UCLA, at least 15 pro-Palestinian protesters were injured, and the authorities' tepid response drew criticism from political leaders and Muslim student groups. This ongoing legal and social tension highlights the complex challenges universities face in balancing free speech, safety, and inclusivity on campus.