'We are pleased with the terms of today’s settlement. The injunction and other terms UCLA has agreed to demonstrate real progress in the fight against antisemitism,’ university says
The University of California on Tuesday announced a nearly $6.5 million settlement in a lawsuit over its handling of antisemitic incidents at UCLA during last year’s protests supporting Palestine on the campus.
Last year, three Jewish UCLA students and a professor filed a lawsuit alleging that the encampment prevented Jewish students from accessing their classes and the library.
“We are pleased with the terms of today’s settlement. The injunction and other terms UCLA has agreed to demonstrate real progress in the fight against antisemitism,” a joint statement by the parties, provided by the UC Office of the President, said.
“This agreement builds on substantive action taken by the University of California and UCLA to promote safety and combat antisemitism on campus. As part of the settlement, UCLA will continue to implement policies that make its campus safer for Jewish students, faculty, and staff,” it said.
According to the details of the agreement, the university agreed to pay $2.33 million to “eight groups that support UCLA’s Jewish community, $320,000 to a campus initiative to fight antisemitism, and $50,000 to each plaintiff,” a total of $200,000, and $3.6 million for legal fees.
“Antisemitism, harassment, and other forms of intimidation are antithetical to our values and have no place at the University of California. We have been clear about where we have fallen short, and we are committed to doing better moving forward.
"Today’s settlement reflects a critically important goal that we share with the plaintiffs: to foster a safe, secure, and inclusive environment for all members of our community and ensure that there is no room for antisemitism anywhere on campus,” said Janet Reilly, University of California Board of Regents chair, in the statement.
“As we build upon our systemwide efforts to further this goal, we remain steadfastly committed to cultivating an environment where all are afforded the opportunity to live, learn and teach safely and peacefully, no matter who they are, where they come from, or how they pray,” she added.
