The group Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Maryland can hold its vigil Oct. 7 on McKeldin Mall as originally planned, a district court judge ruled Tuesday afternoon.
The ruling comes a month after President Darryll Pines said only university-sanctioned events would be held on the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, in essence canceling the event.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations filed a lawsuit on the students’ behalf, arguing the university’s decision violated their First Amendment rights.
In a 28-page ruling, Judge Peter Messitte said the event can go on as planned, but that the university has the right to bolster security, implement crowd control measures and ask participants to identify themselves.
The University of Maryland said it will comply with the court’s decision and allow the vigil to go forward with a safety plan.
“The University of Maryland recognizes, and will abide by, the court’s decision, and will work with all registered student organizers of events requested for October 7. Event organizers, campus officials and UMPD will implement a plan that allows all events to proceed in accordance with the court’s ruling. Notwithstanding today’s court ruling, the safety concerns that were raised remain a source of ongoing attention and focus for us,” the university wrote in a statement.
This story is developing and will be updated. Check back with WTOP News.
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