Palestine Legal and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights organization, filed a lawsuit against the University of Maryland on behalf of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). The suit challenges the university’s decision to cancel an interfaith vigil co-hosted by SJP and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), which aimed to honor lives lost in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Initially approved by the university, the vigil was canceled following intense pressure from anti-Palestinian groups. The university then announced that only “university-sponsored expressive events” would be allowed on campus that day. This move, according to the lawsuit, constitutes viewpoint and content-based discrimination, violating students’ First Amendment rights.
“This cancellation is part of a worrying trend where universities across the U.S. are suppressing pro-Palestinian activism,” stated Palestine Legal staff attorney, Tori Porell. “Universities should encourage robust debate on social justice issues, not censor students due to external pressure.”
CAIR’s National Deputy Litigation Director, Gadeir Abbas, added: “The First Amendment doesn’t allow for selective silencing of student expression. The university’s decision is a clear constitutional violation.”
Both Palestine Legal and CAIR have condemned the increasing number of campus policies suppressing activism, with concerns that student voices advocating for human rights and anti-genocide positions are being unfairly targeted.