Two lawsuits against UCLA describe a rise in antisemitic and anti-Palestinian bias on campus since protests over the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year. The ACLU lawsuit alleges that the university suppressed antiwar voices and unlawfully arrested students and faculty protesters. Another lawsuit focuses on UCLA’s failure to stop antisemitism in a “Jewish exclusion zone” protest area. Campus protests, which included violent clashes, put administrators in a difficult position, balancing free speech with providing a safe learning environment. The complaints seek to expunge disciplinary records of protesters and prevent academic discipline in the future. Jewish plaintiffs allege they were blocked from passing through the zone and the university failed to protect them, despite policies against discrimination. UCLA stated it supports First Amendment rights but had to remove the encampment due to violence and disruptions. Task forces were established to address antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus, with reports finding instances of discrimination and attacks against Jewish and Israeli community members. The campus has been a hotspot for protest and counterprotest activities, with tensions continuing into the new academic year. The university has been criticized for not controlling the situation effectively, with both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian individuals feeling unsafe and experiencing violence.
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