LOS ANGELES (AP) \u2014 A federal judge ordered Monday that the University of California, Los Angeles, craft a plan to protect Jewish students, months after pro-Palestinian protests broke out on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three Jewish students sued the university in June, alleging that they experienced discrimination on campus amid demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war. Yitzchok Frankel, a UCLA law student who is Jewish, said in the lawsuit that he declined an invitation from the director of student life to help host a lunch gathering because he did not feel safe participating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnder ordinary circumstances, I would have leapt at the chance to participate in this event,\u201d Frankel said. \u201cMy Jewish identity and religion are integral to who I am, and I believe it is important to mentor incoming students and encourage them to be proud of their Judaism, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Frankel argued UCLA was failing to foster a safe environment for Jewish students on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UCLA spokesperson Mary Osako said the school is \u201ccommitted to maintaining a safe and inclusive campus, holding those who engaged in violence accountable, and combatting antisemitism in all forms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have applied lessons learned from this spring\u2019s protests and continue to work to foster a campus culture where everyone feels welcome and free from intimidation, discrimination and harassment,\u201d Osako said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The University was ordered to craft a proposed plan by next month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The demonstrations at UCLA became part of a movement at campuses<\/u><\/a> across the country against the Israel-Hamas war. At UCLA, law enforcement ordered in May that over a thousand protesters break up their encampment<\/u><\/a> as tensions rose on campus. Counter-demonstrators had attacked the encampment overnight, and at least 15 protesters suffered injuries. In June, dozens of protesters on campus were arrested<\/u><\/a> after they tried to set up a new encampment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n