University of Maryland SJP Chapter Gets Green Light for Oct. 7 Event, Despite Initial Cancellation

The University of Maryland chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine can hold a protest on its campus on the first anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel, after a federal judge ruled Tuesday that the group “demonstrated a high probability that he would do so.” prevail (in his trial) on the merits of his claim to freedom of expression.

The decision by U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte came after the university, which had initially agreed to the rally, changed course last month and canceled it, triggering the SJP lawsuit asserting that its rights of the First Amendment had been violated.

In a statement, UMD, which has one of the largest Jewish student populations in the country — nearly 20 percent of College Park undergraduates, or more than 30,000 people, are Jewish — said it “acknowledges and will respect the decision of the court”. , and will work with all registered student organizers of requested events for October 7.

The statement continued: “Event organizers, campus officials and UMPD will implement a plan to allow all events to proceed in accordance with the court’s order. Despite today’s court ruling, the security concerns that have been raised remain a source of continued attention and focus for us.

UMD said that in accordance with the court’s decision, “we will now move forward with events, addressing these concerns and challenges with care and caution, including implementing a robust security plan.” This includes enhanced staffing and resources with a strong security presence.

SJP told Washington Post that it will continue Monday’s protest, with one member of the group saying they were “relieved to have the chance to actually organize this event.” In July, the UMD section of the SJP declared that it “unequivocally declares that the Zionist State of Israel has no right to exist.” In another social media post, the group said it “openly supports armed struggle.”

Ari Israel, executive director of UMD Hillel, said Jewish insider On Tuesday, he said he was “deeply disappointed that SJP would hold an event in the university’s largest meeting space on October 7, a year after the largest attack on Jews since the Holocaust.”

“We will not let this setback interfere with our plans to commemorate October 7,” Israel said, noting that student leaders were finalizing plans to hold education and outreach events on campus during the day, including the creation of a place to honor the 101 hostages. who remain in Hamas captivity. In the evening, Israel declared that the “College Park mishpacha» will gather at the Hillel center. He added that Hillel works closely with UMPD. “Now, more than ever,” Israel continued, “we will come together as a community to support our Jewish students at UMD and the strength, courage and resilience they have demonstrated over the past 12 months . »

Maryland Governor Wes Moore also condemned the court’s decision “allowing the protest to continue,” he said in a statement to JI. Moore said that while he “deeply respects the rule of law and due process, I believe October 7 is an inappropriate date for such an event.”

Moore added that Maryland State will work with “local and university leaders to ensure” the safety of students.

“We know that what happens in the world has direct implications on the Maryland community,” Moore continued. “I have been clear: everyone in Maryland has the right to peacefully protest and express their opinions. But no one has the right to call for violence against each other. Terrorists target civilians, and that’s what Hamas did a year ago, on October 7. And that is what we must remember from this day: a heinous terrorist attack against Israel that cost innocent lives.

The lawsuit, filed jointly by the Council on American-Islamic Relations and Palestine Legal on behalf of UMD SJP on September 17, came in response to the university’s reversal last month on its initial authorization of UMD events. October 7 on campus. At the time, UMD President Darryll Pines wrote in a university-wide letter that the decision was made following a “security assessment.”

UMD had initially granted SJP a permit in August to hold the Oct. 7 protest at the campus’ McKeldin Mall, prompting a swift response and calls from campus groups including Hillel and the Jewish Student Union – and former Maryland GOP Gov. Larry Hogan, who is running for Senate – for the school to reverse course. After the decision was reversed, several local lawmakers, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), supported the university’s decision to “preserve this day as a day of reflection.”

When asked about his reaction to the court ruling on Tuesday, Van Hollen did not address the issue in a statement to JI. “October 7 was one of the darkest days in our recent history – it is a day of solemn reflection, mourning the lives lost and remembering the hostages taken,” Van Hollen said.

Hogan told JI that it is “unacceptable that Jewish students still feel unsafe and face anti-Semitism on their own campuses.”

“That is why I immediately spoke out against this shameful anti-Israel event, and I will continue to stand in solidarity with the UMD Jewish community,” he said.

Angela Alsobrooks, Hogan’s Democratic opponent in the Senate race, said in a separate statement to JI that she “understands that the university considered the safety of its students in its initial decision.”

“And as I said then, I agreed with that decision,” Alsobrooks said. “October. The 7th is a solemn day. It is important, in my opinion, to make it a day of commemoration. I also know that the right to demonstrate is fundamental to our nation and that this right must be protected. And I “I hope that in view of this court’s decision, such demonstrations will take place peacefully.”