Last updated on August 29th, 2024 at 06:01 pm
U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday amidst heated protests on college campuses across the country related to the Israel-Gaza conflict. The move came after a lawsuit filed in June by three Jewish students claimed pro-Palestinian protesters barred them from parts of the UCLA campus due to their religion.
Judge Scarsi’s Words Brimmed with Intensity
“In the year 2024, in the United States of America, in the State of California, in the City of Los Angeles, Jewish students were excluded from parts of the UCLA campus because they refused to renounce their faith,” Judge Scarsi said in his judgment, framing the exclusionary conduct as “unthinkable” and “abhorrent.”
Restrictions Imposed on UCLA
The judge’s order prohibits UCLA from sponsoring any events, activities, or providing access to campus facilities that it knows are not reasonably accessible to Jewish students. The decision, thus, would attempt to avoid any exclusion of Jewish students in campus facilities and activities.
B. Legal Argument by UCLA and Response
In court filings, UCLA argued it cannot be held liable for the actions of third-party protesters. It also maintained it had supported police who sought to dismantle the encampments and already acted to address its response to future protests, including establishing a campus safety office and defeating multiple attempts to occupy campus locations.
University Response to the Ruling
Mary Osako, vice chancellor for Strategic Communications at UCLA said in a statement after the ruling that the university was considering “all our options” in light of the court’s action. Osako emphasized UCLA’s commitment to create a campus climate in which “all members feel valued and respected, free from intimidation, discrimination and harassment.” She added that this decision will make it harder for the University to continue in a proper manner to respond to events unfolding on campus and serving its community’s needs.
Plaintiff’s Reaction to the Decision
One of the plaintiffs was a law student named Yitzchok Frankel. He emphasized the significance of the decision: ” No student should ever walk around the universities fearing that they can be barred from the campus because they are Jewish .”
National Spotlight, and Prior Attacks
The UCLA controversy went national over the weekend following a violent confrontation on Friday, when masked individuals attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment wielding clubs and poles. The melee involved pepper spray and physical fights. The police dismantled the encampment the next night and arrested over 200 people. Activists said the police response came too late in the first incident, and too strong in the one that followed. The campus police chief has been reassigned pending an independent review.