UCLA Forced to Pay $6.45 Million For Allowing Jew-Free Zones
UCLA’s $6.45 million settlement addresses allegations of antisemitic discrimination during 2024 pro-Palestinian protests, where Jewish students and faculty were allegedly excluded from campus areas.
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UCLA agreed to a $6.45 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit filed by three Jewish students and a professor who alleged they were discriminated against during pro-Palestinian protests in spring 2024. The lawsuit claimed UCLA allowed a “Jew Exclusion Zone” on campus, where Jewish students and faculty were blocked from accessing areas like Royce Quad, the main library, and classrooms due to their Jewish identity or pro-Israel views.
Filed in June 2024 by UCLA law student Yitzchok Frankel and two other students, along with a Jewish professor, the lawsuit accused UCLA of violating their civil rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin at federally funded institutions. The plaintiffs claimed that during pro-Palestinian encampments (April 25–May 2, 2024), protesters set up barriers on Royce Quad, blocking Jewish students from accessing key campus areas. One plaintiff, wearing a Star of David necklace, was allegedly denied passage unless he wore a “red solidarity wristband” supporting the protest.
Court Ruling
U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi issued a preliminary injunction against UCLA in 2024, marking the first federal court ruling against a U.S. university for its handling of anti-Israel protests. Scarsi rejected UCLA’s defense that it wasn’t responsible for protesters’ actions, stating the university failed to ensure equal access. The settlement followed months of legal scrutiny and pressure from civil rights groups.
Settlement Details
Amount and Breakdown: The $6.45 million settlement includes:
- $6.13 million for damages and legal fees, with each of the four plaintiffs (three students and one professor) receiving $50,000.
- $2.33 million in charitable contributions to eight Jewish organizations, including Hillel at UCLA, Chabad of UCLA, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Academic Engagement Network.
- $320,000 allocated to UCLA’s Initiative to Combat Antisemitism, aimed at new programs to address antisemitism on campus.
UCLA’s Response and Changes
No Admission of Fault: UCLA denied wrongdoing but settled to avoid further litigation. The university stated the agreement reflects “real progress” in combating antisemitism, with UC Board of Regents Chair Janet Reilly emphasizing that “antisemitism, harassment, and other forms of intimidation are antithetical to our values.”
New Measures: UCLA is launching an Office of Campus and Community Safety, revising protest management policies, and implementing antisemitism education programs to ensure Jewish students and faculty are not excluded from campus activities or spaces.
DOJ Involvement: On July 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a “notice of violation,” stating UCLA violated the Equal Protection Clause and Title VI by being “deliberately indifferent” to a hostile environment for Jewish students during the protests. Attorney General Pam Bondi called it a “disgusting breach of civil rights,” though the settlement was not directly tied to the DOJ’s findings.
Financial and Reputational Impact
- UCLA’s Finances: The $6.45 million settlement adds to UCLA’s athletic department’s financial strain, which reported a $51.85 million deficit in 2024, part of a $219.55 million deficit over six years, per the Los Angeles Times. The university also faces a $10 million annual “Calimony” payment to UC Berkeley for leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, though it expects $60–75 million in Big Ten media rights revenue starting in 2026.
- Reputational Toll: The settlement follows a donor withdrawing a multimillion-dollar bequest due to UCLA’s handling of the protests, per *KTLA*. The case has drawn national attention, with legal experts calling it a “wake-up call” for universities to balance free speech with student safety.
Implications
- Legal Precedent: The UCLA settlement, alongside Columbia’s, sets a benchmark for holding universities accountable for antisemitic discrimination, potentially influencing other campuses facing similar lawsuits (e.g., Barnard College, Duke University).
- Campus Policy Changes: UCLA’s new safety office and protest guidelines may become a model for other universities, balancing free expression with equal access.
- Community Impact: The settlement’s funding for Jewish organizations like Chabad and Hillel strengthens community resources, but ongoing lawsuits from pro-Palestinian groups suggest continued campus tensions.