A Palestinian law firm and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) filed a lawsuit against the University of Maryland on Tuesday for canceling an Oct. 7 vigil that a student group had planned for those who have died in Gaza since Hamas' terrorist attacks on Israel a year ago.
The university announced in early September that it had concluded the best way to move forward with the anniversary was to “host only university-sponsored events that encourage reflection on this day.”
“Applications have been submitted for multiple student organization-sponsored events on Oct. 7, raising questions about events on that day. We have heard many calls to cancel and limit events on that day, and we fully understand that this day will bring up deep-seated pain and emotional wounds. The words are strong and the rhetoric is fierce,” University of Maryland President Daryl Pines said.
The Palestinian Law Office said the Students for Palestine Justice event had already been approved by the university but was canceled.
“Following overwhelming pressure from anti-Palestinian groups, Maryland canceled the rally and announced that only university-sponsored 'expressive activities' would be allowed on campus that day,” the group said.
“The university's decision constitutes unlawful view- and content-based discrimination in violation of the First Amendment. This reversal continues a trend by universities across the country to target, harass and punish pro-Palestinian and anti-genocide students on their campuses,” Palestine Legal added.
The university said it would allow other events related to the conflict and the Oct. 7 attacks to take place in the days before and after the anniversary.
