Judge allows students to hold Oct. 7 vigil after University of Maryland denied them

KARAH RUCKER: A LEGAL VICTORY FOR STUDENT ACTIVISTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND. A FEDERAL COURT HAS RULED THAT THE UNIVERSITY MUST ALLOW A VIGIL PLANNED 

FOR OCTOBER 7, WHICH MARKS THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF HAMAS’S ATTACK ON ISRAEL.

THE VIGIL, ORGANIZED BY THE STUDENT GROUP STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE, WAS INITIALLY APPROVED BY THE UNIVERSITY. HOWEVER, THE SCHOOL LATER CANCELED ALL EVENTS FOR THAT DAY, CITING A DESIRE TO PROMOTE REFLECTION THROUGH UNIVERSITY-SPONSORED ACTIVITIES ONLY. PALESTINE LEGAL AND THE COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS SUED ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS, WITH THE JUDGE RULING IN THEIR FAVOR.

THE COURT’S RULING EMPHASIZED THAT THE UNIVERSITY’S BLANKET BAN ON STUDENT-LED EVENTS IMPOSED AN UNREASONABLE RESTRICTION ON FREE SPEECH. FOLLOWING THE RULING, THE UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED IT WOULD COMPLY AND WORK WITH STUDENT ORGANIZERS TO ALLOW THEIR EVENTS TO BE HELD ON CAMPUS. WHILE THE UNIVERSITY EXPRESSED SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT THE EVENTS, IT PLANS TO IMPLEMENT A ROBUST SECURITY PLAN TO ENSURE THE STUDENT VIGIL CAN PROCEED SAFELY.

ADVOCACY GROUPS HAVE PRAISED THE DECISION. “THE FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION” SAYING – 

“IT WAS AS CLEAR TO THE COURT AS IT WAS TO OUR COALITION THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S BLANKET BAN WOULD HAVE CONSTITUTED A SERIOUS AND IRREPARABLE BURDEN ON STUDENT SPEECH.”

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