A federal court has granted the University of Maryland branch of Students for Justice in Palestine the right to hold a previously scheduled Oct. 7 event.
The decision comes after the school canceled the event, resulting in advocacy groups helping the student SJP branch to sue their own school.
The SJP group will now likely go forward with their event, which will mourn the lives of those lost in Gaza on the day 1,200 Israelis were killed at the hands of Hamas, a terrorist organization that controls the region.
U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte granted the request, saying the group “has demonstrated a substantial likelihood that it will prevail on the merits of its freedom of speech claim.”
Messitte noted that UMD will have the right to reinforce campus security for the event and can ask vigil participants to identify themselves, employ “crowd-control” tactics, and kick out those who don’t follow directives.
The SJP group is required to pay $2,500 bond as security in connection with the event.
The school responded in a statement shared with the Washington Examiner.
“Today, a judge in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland granted SJP’s motion for a preliminary injunction, requiring the University to reinstate SJP’s reservation for McKeldin Mall on October 7, 2024, subject to a court-imposed bond on SJP,” it said.
“The University of Maryland recognizes, and will abide by, the court’s decision, and will work with all registered student organizers of events requested for October 7. Event organizers, campus officials and UMPD will implement a plan that allows all events to proceed in accordance with the court’s ruling. Notwithstanding today’s court ruling, the safety concerns that were raised remain a source of ongoing attention and focus for us,” the university said.
The school added it would address concerns with “the implementation of a robust safety plan.” This includes enhanced staffing and resources with a strong security presence.
One group representing the students in court celebrated the decision.
“The right to engage in free exchange of ideas on campus is not a right that can be taken away because people in power do not want to hear them,” Nick Taichi Steiner, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, said. “Universities must foster an environment where all students feel able to express themselves, their opinions, and their emotions. UMD denied that to the Students for Justice in Palestine and violated their First Amendment rights. We’re grateful for the court’s decision to overturn this viewpoint and content-based ban.”
Gadeir Abbas, an attorney for the SJP chapter, also celebrated the decision in a statement Tuesday.
“We hope that other schools will take note that the First Amendment protects student speech every day, including on October 7th,” Abbas said.
The school’s president, Darryll J. Pines, previously said on Sept. 1 that only university-sponsored events will be held that day.
“I have also consulted with the University System of Maryland about the importance of our university and all of our USM schools prioritizing safety and reflection on this one-year anniversary,” Pines said. “Jointly, out of an abundance of caution, we concluded to host only university-sponsored events that promote reflection on this day. All other expressive events will be held prior to October 7, and then resume on October 8 in accordance with time, place and manner considerations of the First Amendment.”
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The Washington Examiner contacted the Anti-Defamation League and Maryland Hillel for comment but did not receive a response. Jewish groups previously criticized SJP for holding the event on Oct. 7.
“October 7 is a day of tragedy for the Jewish and Israeli community around the world. It is alarming to see that SJP has chosen this date, a day of Jewish mourning, to hold an event on campus,” the groups wrote on Instagram.
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
