The Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Philadelphia), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned Haverford College President Wendy Raymond’s cancellation of a student-organized art event in solidarity with Palestine and announced that it is considering legal action on breach-of-contract grounds.
In an October 6 email, President Raymond acknowledged that the October 7 event, organized by Haverford’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America, was permitted under the college’s established policies, yet canceled it after organizers declined to change its date. Her email cited the event’s timing and ongoing safety risks.
In a statement, CAIR-Philadelphia Legal Director Adam Alaa Attia, Esq., said:
“Recognizing the grief associated with October 7 must not require silencing Palestinian solidarity or treating expressions of Palestinian humanity as inherently threatening to others’ belonging. A commitment to inclusion must extend to Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, and allied students.
“Canceling an admittedly permissible event through an arbitrary restriction undermines the legitimacy of college policies and Haverford’s Quaker tradition of conscience, principled dissent, and respect for every person’s dignity. Invoking safety risks without explaining how they warranted cancellation further erodes students’ trust. Freedom of expression means little if administrators withdraw it when its exercise becomes uncomfortable.
“The administration’s attempt to justify its decision through conversation and dialogue does not align with how students recount their experience. Meetings cannot credibly be presented as meaningful dialogue when students’ refusal to accept a requested date change is followed by cancellation of their policy-compliant event.”
CAIR-Philadelphia urges impacted students to share their experiences at pa.cair.com/report.
CAIR-Philadelphia calls on Haverford to remedy the harm, explain the policy basis for its decision, and uphold students’ right to organize and express solidarity with Palestine without discriminatory or selectively imposed restrictions.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: Adam Alaa Attia, Esq., CAIR-Philadelphia Legal Director, [email protected].