The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced the filing of a lawsuit on behalf of Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine, challenging University Chancellor and Missouri School System President Dr. Choi’s decision to prohibit Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine from participating in the university’s 2024 homecoming parade on First Amendment grounds.
SEE: FULL LAWSUIT
Before denying their application to participate, the University of Missouri first implored the student group not to carry a banner stating “END THE GENOCIDE” at the parade. Ultimately, Dr. Choi cited what he called the “disturbing” behavior of students at other universities as the reason he denied MSJP’s application. The University permitted other political messages, including “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” banners displayed by a fraternity.
SEE: MU denies Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine a spot in Homecoming parade
“President Choi denied Mizzou SJP’s application to participate in the parade because he did not want anti-genocide messages displayed at the Homecoming Parade,” said Ahmad Kaki, staff attorney at CAIR National. “Choi’s decision to forbid pro-Palestine messages while permitting other political messages is viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment.”
“We reject Dr. Choi’s dehumanizing portrayal of Palestinians and their allies as violent or ‘disturbing’. This pathetic attempt at justifying an attack on free speech is just another example of the same rhetoric used to justify the slaughter of at least 62,000 Palestinians in Gaza using U.S.-made weapons provided by our tax dollars,” said Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine. “Any university leader who is more disturbed by those protesting genocide than the actual genocide itself has no place leading others at any institution, much less an educational one.”
“MSJP’s exclusion from the 2024 Homecoming Parade was a blatant violation of the First Amendment,” said Gadeir Abbas, Deputy Litigation Director at CAIR National. “In addition to seeking relief from the court for that constitutional violation, we are also demanding that the University not repeat its mistake by excluding Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine again in this year’s parade.”
Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report, Unconstitutional Crackdowns, which reveals that Islamophobia remains at record-high levels nationwide. CAIR said viewpoint discrimination against those speaking out against genocide and apartheid was a key factor in many cases.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Senior Litigation Attorney Gadeir Abbas 720-251-0425, gabbas@cair.com; CAIR National Staff Attorney Ahmad Kaki 202-640-4935 akak@cair.com, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com