The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today welcomed the reinstatement of the group Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Rowan University, emphasizing the fundamental importance of protecting free speech and upholding First Amendment rights on college campuses.
SEE: N.J. university suspends student Palestinian group after thousands of complaints about poster
In a statement, CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said:
“We commend the students at Rowan University for their unwavering determination and dedication to justice. The reinstatement of the SJP chapter is a victory for free speech, the First Amendment, and the broader commitment to academic freedom. Universities must remain safe spaces for diverse perspectives, where students can engage in open dialogue and advocacy without fear of censorship or intimidation. Under the First Amendment, this form of viewpoint discrimination has no place in our educational institutions.
“The targeted harassment faced by SJP, including a concerted campaign of complaints orchestrated by a MAGA Facebook group, represents a clear and troubling attempt to suppress pro-Palestinian voices. CAIR-NJ stands in solidarity with those that champion justice, and human rights.”
CAIR-NJ will continue to support SJP and other student organizations that work to advance social justice and equality. We call on Rowan University to ensure that its policies not only safeguard free speech but also protect students from any form of targeted harassment or discrimination.
CAIR-NJ also urges other academic institutions to take note of this case and to examine their own policies to ensure that they are fostering environments where students can freely engage in activism, discourse and advocacy, regardless of the issues they champion. The preservation of these rights is essential to the mission of higher education.
Last month, CAIR-NJ welcomed the results of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) in response to a 2024 joint complaint filed by CAIR-NJ and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) against Rutgers University. The complaint stated that the university engaged in patterned anti-Palestinian bigotry at RU campuses since the onset of the Palestinian genocide in October 2023. The DOE’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) found that Rutgers University “likely operated a hostile environment based on national origin/shared ancestry” in violation of federal law.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, promote understanding of Islam, and empower American Muslims while advancing justice and equality for all communities.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, 551-208-5482, aelamroussi@cair.com