UCLA Settles Major Antisemitism Lawsuit

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has agreed to pay between $6 million and $6.45 million to settle a lawsuit brought by three Jewish students and a professor who alleged the university allowed antisemitic discrimination during 2024 pro-Palestinian campus protests, including being blocked from areas called a 'Jew Exclusion Zone.' The settlement includes direct payments to the plaintiffs, over $2 million to Jewish organizations, and $320,000 for UCLA’s Initiative to Combat Antisemitism. Under a 15-year consent judgment, UCLA is prohibited from facilitating exclusion or discrimination against Jewish community members, pending final approval from a federal judge. The Department of Justice found UCLA in violation of federal civil rights law for failing to address severe harassment and supported the plaintiffs in the case. UCLA acknowledged shortcomings in its response and has adopted new safety and protest management policies. The settlement is one of the largest in campus antisemitism cases and comes amid increased federal scrutiny nationwide.