FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (Orthodox Union), the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, through its OU Advocacy Center, is supporting Jewish students in a lawsuit against UCLA over the university’s objectionable handling of antisemitism on its campus. The Orthodox Union joined in filing an amicus (friend of the court) brief in the case of Frankel v. Regents of the University of California together with Agudath Israel of America. The brief was authored by attorneys at the Weil Gotshal law firm.

The lawsuit brought by several students arises from the antisemitism on the UCLA campus last spring, including a deliberate effort by UCLA students to block Jewish students and faculty from walking to their classes and offices. The “Jew Exclusion Zone” used checkpoints, wristbands, and barriers to stop Jews from passing unless they disavowed Israel’s right to exist. Protesters even locked arms to deny Jews access. 

UCLA’s administration failed to clear the “Jew Exclusion Zone” and went so far as to order campus police to stand down from clearing the encampment. Administrators knowingly gave free reign to an antisemitic mob and refused to protect Jewish students’ civil rights.

In Frankel v. Regents of the University of California, three UCLA students are asking a federal court to hold the university accountable for allowing the antisemitic encampment and doing nothing to stop antisemitic discrimination in violation of Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act.

The amicus brief highlights that Orthodox Jews in particular are the most vulnerable to antisemitic harassment and discrimination because they are, often, the most visibly religious. UCLA’s willful negligence forces these students to choose between practicing their religion and accessing the campus. 

“There’s no point in having laws on the books if they are not enforced. In a flagrant disregard for federal law, UCLA did nothing to protect Jewish students and faculty and enabled an antisemitic mob. Now, it’s up to the courts to enforce the U.S. Civil Rights Act and hold UCLA accountable. We are filing this brief because OU Advocacy hopes to protect all religious groups from unfair discrimination. We hope the court will deliver swift consequences, setting an example for other universities around the country that saw similar uprisings.”

Access the full brief here: BRIEF OF AMICI CURIAE

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