Maryland SJP Sues Over Canceled Vigil

The University of Maryland's chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) has filed a federal lawsuit against the university for canceling their planned Oct. 7 vigil, alleging violations of their First Amendment rights. The university administration, led by President Darryll Pines, canceled the event citing safety concerns and emotional sensitivity surrounding the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. Palestine Legal and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) are representing SJP in the lawsuit, which argues that the cancellation constitutes unlawful viewpoint discrimination. The university has decided to permit only university-sponsored events on Oct. 7 but will allow other related events on surrounding days. This decision has been met with criticism, particularly from those who argue that it suppresses pro-Palestinian viewpoints. Meanwhile, similar tensions are evident at Rutgers University, where the SJP chapter, currently banned from campus, continues to protest against the university's policies and relations with Israel.