The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for an independent investigation of the reported violent crackdown by Johns Hopkins University Police (JHPD) and Baltimore City Police against student protesters during a peaceful anti-genocide protest that took place at Johns Hopkins University’s Keyser Quad.
On the morning of May 8, students launched the “Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya Liberated Zone” in solidarity with the people of Gaza to protest Johns Hopkins’ ongoing complicity in genocide.
Despite the peaceful nature of the demonstration, complaints to CAIR indicate officers deployed by both Johns Hopkins University and Baltimore City Police responded with excessive force, physical harassment, and threats, injuring at least two students and reportedly damaging personal belongings.
SEE: 2 Hopkins students for Palestine injured during police removal of encampment, activists say
Hopkins Justice Collective Press Release
According to reports from the Hopkins Justice Collective, over 30 officers were involved in the suppression of this nonviolent demonstration. Video footage collected at the scene revealed officers pulling canopies onto students’ heads, and students reported alleged misconduct by multiple officers reportedly including physical assault, threats and verbal harassment. The escalation culminated in the forced dispersal of the encampment, with officers reportedly physically restraining and injuring students in the process.
“This aggressive and unwarranted crackdown on students exercising their right to free speech and peaceful assembly is deeply troubling and unacceptable,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “The heavy-handed response not only violates the rights of students to peacefully protest, but also breaches policies that govern police conduct, including excessive use of force. This incident demonstrates a reckless disregard for basic safety and freedoms, and students deserve accountability and answers.”
CAIR’s Maryland office is calling for an independent probe into police misconduct during the incident. The civil rights group is urging Johns Hopkins University administrators and Baltimore authorities take appropriate corrective action based on the findings of this investigation, and to acknowledge the growing concerns that prompted students to establish the “Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya Liberated Zone” on campus.
Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya is the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, who was kidnapped by Israeli occupation forces and is reportedly being held in a detention center notorious for torturing prisoners.
SEE: Action Alert: Demand AMA Call for the Release of Gaza Hospital Director Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya
Students’ complaints to CAIR include in part that the university’s response on May 8 reflects a troubling willingness to prioritize institutional interests over students’ safety and well-being, human rights and justice. They are demanding that Johns Hopkins University recognize its role in perpetuating systems of violence and oppression and commit to meaningful change that aligns with the principles of human dignity, accountability, and respect for free expression.
CAIR stands in solidarity with all students and community members who are exercising their constitutional rights to peacefully and courageously speak out against genocide and systemic violence. The civil rights group is also calling on JHU officials to issue a formal public apology to the impacted students, and to commit to ensuring that law enforcement agencies operate within the bounds of the law and ethical standards.
Washington, D.C., CAIR recently launched its “Unhostile Campus Campaign” aimed at fostering a campus environment in which Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and other students, faculty, and staff opposing the genocide in Gaza enjoy free speech and academic freedom and are not subjected to state force or university discipline due to their viewpoints.
Institutions of particular concern may be found at: https://islamophobia.org/category/hostile-campuses/
Students, staff, and faculty who wish for their university or college campus to be potentially designated as a hostile campus should complete the ‘Report a Hostile Campus’ form. This form is intended solely to inform CAIR’s ‘UnHostile Campus Campaign.’
Individuals seeking CAIR’s legal and advocacy services should contact their local office or chapter, or if there is no local chapter, file a formal report with CAIR’s National Civil Rights Department.
Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report “Unconstitutional Crackdowns,” which reveals that Islamophobia continues to be at an all-time high across the country. 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 Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR Maryland Outreach Coordinator Kimberly Syuardi, ksyuardi@cair.com, 202-850-9293