UCLA to pay over $6 million to settle lawsuit over pro-Palestinian protests

The College of California, Los Angeles introduced Tuesday that it has reached a settlement in a discrimination lawsuit introduced by Jewish college students and a school member, agreeing to pay greater than $6 million.

The plaintiffs, who introduced the lawsuit in June 2024, accused the college of failing to take motion when pro-Palestinian protesters arrange encampments final spring. They claimed that the protest areas have been inaccessible to Jewish college students and amounted to what plaintiffs known as “Jew exclusion zones.” Whereas UCLA has denied any wrongdoing, it agreed to settle totally, with $50,000 funds to every of the plaintiffs along with $2.33 million in donations to organizations that fight antisemitism.

“We’re happy with the phrases of right this moment’s settlement. The injunction and different phrases UCLA has agreed to show actual progress within the combat in opposition to antisemitism,” the events stated in a joint assertion.

Within the settlement, UCLA agreed to make sure that Jewish college students and school wouldn’t be excluded from any packages, actions or campus areas. The eight organizations to which the varsity agreed to donate embrace Hillel at UCLA, the Educational Engagement Community and the Anti-Defamation League, the settlement stated. Moreover, the varsity stated it is going to allocate $320,000 for its Initiative to Fight Antisemitism, in line with a press launch concerning the settlement.

“Antisemitism, harassment, and different types of intimidation are antithetical to our values and haven’t any place on the College of California,” UC Board of Regents Chair Janet Reilly stated. “We have now been clear about the place now we have fallen brief, and we’re dedicated to doing higher transferring ahead.”

Yitzchok Frankel, a UCLA pupil and plaintiff within the case, stated in an announcement that although he was disillusioned within the faculty’s preliminary actions, the settlement was a constructive growth.

“At this time’s court docket judgment brings justice again to our campus and ensures Jews will probably be protected and be handled equally as soon as once more,” he stated.

The settlement comes greater than a yr after college students staged pro-Palestinian protests at universities throughout the nation, with tent encampments established at many campuses. At UCLA, protesters referred to as on the varsity to divest from corporations which have ties to Israel with an encampment of their very own in late April 2024. Counterprotesters attacked the encampment, resulting in violent clashes. Police have been finally referred to as and greater than 200 individuals have been arrested.

Months later, the varsity carried out a “zero tolerance” coverage, banning encampments, masks that disguise identities and any protests that block pathways.

Lawsuits have additionally been filed by Professional-Palestinian protestors and supporters as properly. UCLA was hit with a lawsuit in October, accusing it of suppressing antiwar voices and ordering college students and school protesters to be arrested unlawfully. The swimsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, additionally accused the varsity of violating free speech rights. The case remains to be being litigated.

Columbia College final week stated it is going to pay $200 million to the Trump administration to revive funding that had been minimize over allegations it violated anti-discrimination legal guidelines. In March, the administration stated it was canceling $400 million in grants to the Ivy League establishment, accusing it of “inaction within the face of persistent harassment of Jewish college students.”

Earlier this month, Barnard School in Manhattan, an all-women’s affiliate of Columbia College, additionally settled a lawsuit that accused the varsity of failing to sufficiently fight antisemitism on campus. Among the many phrases it had agreed to, the varsity stated it could ban masks at protests and that it could refuse to fulfill or negotiate with a coalition of pro-Palestinian pupil teams.

The settlement instantly drew criticism from its college students and school. Nara Milanich, a Barnard historical past professor who’s Jewish, advised CNN that the settlement seems to “equate criticism of Israel with antisemitism.”

“That may be a downside for essential thought and educational freedom,” she stated.