University of Maryland Faces Backlash for Allowing Anti-Israel Group's Rally on October 7

The University of Maryland is facing severe criticism for permitting the anti-Israel group Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) to hold a rally on October 7, the anniversary of Hamas’ deadly attack that killed 1,200 Israelis. The event, which will take place on a significant portion of the campus, has drawn ire from Jewish organizations and community leaders who argue that it glorifies terrorism and marginalizes Jewish students.

Key points of contention include:

• SJP’s rally is set for October 7, marking one year since the Hamas attack that led to the deaths of 1,200 Israelis, sparking concerns that the event is a celebration of violence.

• SJP previously held a similar event, setting up 15,000 flags on campus to commemorate "martyrs" and making speeches against what they called “the Zionist entity.”

• Jewish leaders, including Rabbi Ari Israel from the university’s Hillel chapter, have expressed deep concerns about the emotional toll this event will have on Jewish students, especially given its timing and message.

The university's decision to allow SJP to proceed with the rally has sparked outrage, particularly from those who see it as tacit approval of Hamas' actions. Gerard Filitti, a lawyer with the Lawfare Project, wrote to University of Maryland President Darryll Pines, demanding that the event be canceled, citing it as a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits federally funded institutions from engaging in discriminatory practices.

“No campus should permit SJP or any similar organization to hold any kind of event on October 7th,” Filitti argued, noting that the event seems to celebrate “the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust.” He likened the situation to allowing a university to celebrate the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. or the attacks of 9/11, calling it an "emphatic no" in terms of moral and ethical standards.

Despite these concerns, the university has defended its decision, with spokeswoman Hafsa Siddiqui stating that the event was organized according to university policies and that, as a public institution, UMD “welcomes and expects expressive activity” that complies with the law. However, this response has done little to quell the outrage from those who view the rally as an affront to the Jewish community.

The backlash against SJP is not isolated to Maryland. Since October 7, college campuses across the country have seen a rise in anti-Semitic incidents, much of it driven by the actions of SJP chapters. George Washington University recently banned its SJP chapter after it projected “Glory to our Martyrs” on a campus library named after a Jewish donor. Similarly, Bard College’s SJP chapter drew criticism for a poster featuring images of paragliders, a reference to the method Hamas terrorists used to cross into Israel during the attacks.

These actions have led to increased scrutiny of SJP and similar organizations, with the Anti-Defamation League labeling SJP as supporters of terror and violence, calling for the “dismantling” of Zionism on college campuses.

As the University of Maryland prepares for SJP’s rally on October 7, the event continues to fuel a broader debate about free speech, the role of universities in combating hate, and the protection of Jewish students on campus.

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