A pro-Palestine protest to mourn the lives lost in the Israel-Palestine conflict took place on Monday at the University of Maryland.
The protest notably took place on October 7th, the day when Hamas and several other Palestinian militant groups launched an attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200, mostly civilians, and more than 240 hostages.
The protest comes after the University of Maryland previously canceled a free-speech event organized by Students for Justice in Palestine. However, a Federal court ruling last Tuesday found that the university had infringed upon SJP’s First Amendment rights by canceling the vigil. UMD officials have since stated they will respect the court’s decision.
“The University of Maryland acknowledges and will comply with the court’s ruling,” the administration said, adding that they will work with event organizers and campus security to ensure all activities proceed in accordance with the decision.
On Monday morning, heavy police presence and security were spotted on campus, and one local officer said authorities deployed a surveillance drone for extra security measures.
Take a look:
More scenes of the protest:
Palestinian flag planted on the McKeldin Mall
Per WUSA 9:
In the lead-up to the anniversary, Students for Justice in Palestine began organizing an interfaith vigil on the UMD campus. School leadership initially said the vigil could not take place, before SJP took the school to court and won.
The court ruled Tuesday that administrators had violated Students for Justice in Palestine’s First Amendment rights by canceling the group’s vigil scheduled for Monday. UMD officials said they would honor the court’s decision last week.
“The University of Maryland recognizes, and will abide by, the court’s decision, and will work with all registered organizers of events requested for Oct. 7,” UMD officials said Tuesday. “Even organizers, campus officials and UMPD will implement a plan that allows all events to proceed in accordance with the court’s ruling.”
The Jewish Student Union of UMD has their own vigil scheduled for next Monday, to commemorate victims of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel and bring attention to the 97 hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas.
The Jewish Student Union had supported the the university’s decision to cancel Student for Justice in Palestine’s event.