The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today joined Palestine Legal to deliver oral arguments before a federal court in Maryland on a preliminary injunction in the lawsuit of Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Maryland (SJP) against the University of Maryland. A ruling in the case is expected tomorrow.
WATCH CAIR’S NEWS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING ORAL ARGUMENTS
BACKGROUNDER:
Earlier this month, CAIR and Palestine Legal filed a lawsuit on behalf of University of Maryland Students for Justice in Palestine to challenge the university’s decision to cancel the group’s interfaith vigil to honor the lives lost during Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The lawsuit alleges that the University’s cancellation of the vigil violates the first amendment.
In addition to the lawsuit, CAIR and Palestine Legal filed a preliminary injunction, seeking an order from the court to reinstate the October 7 vigil and prohibit any special rules governing speech on October 7. The court will hear arguments related to that preliminary injunction.
SEE: Groups Sue After University Of Maryland Cancels Vigil for Gaza on Oct. 7 (The Hill)
END
CONTACT: CAIR National Senior Litigation Attorney Gadeir Abbas 720-251-0425, gabbas@cair.com; Palestine Legal Media, media@palestinelegal.org; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com; CAIR Maryland Outreach Coordinator Kimberly Syuardi, ksyuardi@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com