COLLEGE PARK, Md. — A student group took the University of Maryland to court and won, with the court ruling that administrators had violated Students for Justice in Palestine's First Amendment rights by canceling the group's vigil scheduled for Oct. 7.
"SJP has demonstrated a substantial likelihood that it will prevail on the merits of its freedom of speech claim," the US District Court for Maryland said on Tuesday. "The court further finds the plaintiff will suffer irreparable harm in the form of deprivation of its right to freedom of speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment."
On Tuesday, UMD officials said they would honor the court's decision.
"The University of Maryland recognizes, and will abide by, the court's decision, and will work with all registered organizers of events requested for Oct. 7," UMD officials said Tuesday. "Even organizers, campus officials and UMPD will implement a plan that allows all events to proceed in accordance with the court's ruling."
The Jewish Student Union of UMD has their own vigil scheduled for next Monday, to commemorate victims of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel and bring attention to the 97 hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas.
The Jewish Student Union had supported the the university's decision to cancel Student for Justice in Palestine's event.
"We are relieved that SJP will no longer be able to appropriate the suffering of our family and friends to fit their false and dangerous narrative," the Jewish Student Union posted to Instagram on Sept. 1. "While this is not an ideal situation, it ensures that our physical and psychological safety is protected on this day of grief."
The University Maryland leadership first announced that they had canceled the student group's vigil on Sept. 1, saying only university sponsored events would be allowed on Oct. 7.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we concluded to host only university-sponsored events that promote reflection on this day," UMD President Darryll Pines said on Sept. 1. "All other expressive events will be held prior to Oct. 7, and then resume on Oct. 8 in accordance with time, place and manner considerations of the First Amendment.
The Center for American Islamic Relations and Palestine Legal sued the University of Maryland on behalf of SJP for the university's decision soon after.
"We're thrilled with the court's decision," CAIR's Deputy Litigation Director Gadeir Abbas said on Tuesday. "If the First Amendment didn't protect students who seek to mourn a genocide and educate the public about it , then it's meaningless."
The event by SJP was promoted as an interfaith vigil, inviting members of Jewish Voices for Peace, a Jewish group that opposes Israel, to participate.
"We refuse to allow attempts to cancel our reservations to stop our message," SJP posted on Instagram on Tuesday. "Every Palestinian shares a unique story, and we will not rest until we see a liberated Palestine."
Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 killed over 1,100 people including nearly 800 civilians, with many reports of rape and sexual assault against Israelis by Hamas fighters. 251 people in Israel, including seven American citizens, were taken hostage by Hamas on that day.
These attacks sparked the Israel-Hamas war. Over 40,000 Palestinians inside Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank have been killed as a result of the conflict. Millions inside Gaza, and hundreds of thousands inside Israel, have been displaced since the war started.
