The University of Maryland chapter of Students for Justice for Palestine filed a lawsuit against the university on Tuesday, alleging that the university has rescinded its initial decision to allow the group to hold a rally on Oct. 7, according to a press release.
President Darryl Pines Announced In its September letter, the university said it would only allow university-sponsored events on Oct. 7, but other events could take place before or after. Students for Justice for Palestine Complaints They argued that the decision violated their First Amendment rights.
The group initially received approval to hold an “awareness-raising event” after reserving a space at McKeldin Mall on campus for Oct. 7, the day Hamas attacked Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and kidnapping hundreds. During the meeting, Pines and University Vice President Patricia Perillo said they received pressure from groups on and off campus to cancel the rally but remained committed to protecting students' free speech rights, the lawsuit states. (Related article: UCLA students sued for allowing 'Jew-free zone' at violent pro-Palestinian encampment)
“Following the overwhelming response from a variety of perspectives, I have requested a routine, targeted safety assessment on this date to understand the risks and safety measures associated with the planned event,” Pines said in a September email announcement that said only university-sponsored events would be permitted on Oct. 7. “While UMPD has assured me there are no imminent or ongoing threats that would prompt this assessment, this assessment is a prudent and precautionary measure that will help us keep safety our number one priority.”
According to the lawsuit, Jewish Voice for Peace at the University of Maryland planned to host the event in collaboration with Students for Palestine Justice. The goal of both groups was to mourn the loss of innocent lives, both Palestinian and Israeli, while creating a community space.
Lawyers for Students for Palestine Justice, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Palestine Law Office, argued that the university's decision constituted “unlawful view- and content-based discrimination.” According to The university's job is to “seek out, not censor” discussion of social issues, Tori Porell, a staff attorney at the Palestine Law Office, said in a press release.
“The First Amendment does not permit the government to designate October 7th, or any other day, as a day to ban free expression,” Ghadeir Abbas, vice president of national litigation for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said in a press release. “If the constitutional clarity holds, the Court will be left to contradict itself.”
The University of Maryland referred the Daily Caller News Foundation to a letter from the university's president. Pines, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and Palestine Legal did not immediately respond to DCNF requests for comment.
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