Three Jewish students have filed a civil rights lawsuit against the University of California Board of Regents and other university officials, alleging that UCLA allowed “antisemitic activists” to prevent them and other students from attending classes, offices, and the library during pro-Palestinian demonstrations in April and May.
According to the complaint filed in a Los Angeles federal court, two law students and an undergraduate student claim that UCLA permitted a group of students and outsiders to establish an encampment that blocked Jewish students and faculty from accessing the core of the campus.
Following the Hamas attacks on Israel in October, pro-Palestinian demonstrations spread to college campuses across the country. The lawsuit alleges that by allowing the encampment on the Westwood campus, UCLA effectively restricted Jewish students and faculty from certain areas unless they denounced Israel’s right to exist.
UCLA responded to the lawsuit by stating, “We are aware of the lawsuit that was filed today, which to our knowledge, has not yet been served. We will review and respond in due course. UCLA remains committed to supporting the safety and well-being of the entire Bruin community.”
The activists reportedly used checkpoints, wrist bands, barriers, and physical blockades to prevent Jewish students from passing through. The lawsuit claims that UCLA was aware of these practices but chose not to intervene, instructing security staff to discourage unapproved students from trying to cross through the blocked areas.
Mark Rienzi, president and CEO of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, described the situation as a “profound and illegal failure of leadership,” stating that UCLA allowed Jewish students to be segregated from their own campus. The lawsuit, filed by Mr. Rienzi’s firm on behalf of the student plaintiffs, alleges that activists within the pro-Palestinian encampment targeted Jewish students.
Yitzchok Frankel, a law student and father of four, claims he faced antisemitic harassment and had to change his regular routes through campus due to the so-called Jewish “exclusion zone.” Another plaintiff, Joshua Ghayoum, a sophomore and history major, says he was repeatedly blocked from accessing the library and other public spaces, hearing chants like “death to Jews” at the encampment.
Eden Shemuelian, a law student, states that her final exam studies were impacted when she had to navigate around the encampment and face antisemitic chants and signs to reach the law school’s library.
Mr. Rienzi emphasized the seriousness of the situation, comparing it to America in 2024 and condemning UCLA for allowing antisemitism to fester on campus. The lawsuit calls for accountability and a commitment to ensuring that Jewish students will never be segregated on campus again.
Ultimately, police dismantled the UCLA encampment in an overnight operation that resulted in over 200 arrests.
