The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today applauded a historic vote by students at the University of Maryland College Park (UMD) last evening to pass a ballot referendum in favor of the institution boycotting and divesting from entities complicit in violating Palestinian human rights.
SEE: “The Diamondback” Article: UMD students vote in support of divestment referendum
“We commend the students at the University of Maryland College Park for their courageous and historic vote for this referendum,” said CAIR’s Maryland Outreach Coordinator Kimberly Syuardi. “It reflects a powerful commitment to human rights, justice, and moral responsibility that won’t be deterred by public opinion or policymakers. CAIR stands with them in their efforts to promote awareness and accountability, and we hope this motivates UMD and other institutions to pursue decisions that promote justice and equity for Palestinians and all peoples suffering from oppression.”
The ballot measure passed calls on the university’s SGA to begin lobbying the University System of Maryland Foundation and University of Maryland College Park Foundation to divest from companies facilitating violence in the world, such as Palestine, Myanmar, and the Philippines.
Fifty-five percent of voters, or 3,260 students, voted in favor of divestment, the Student Government Association announced Friday. The SGA passed an emergency bill last month to hold the campuswide referendum during this election after over 650 students petitioned urging the SGA to add the question to its 2025 election ballot.
The vote comes after CAIR recently condemned findings by the UMD SGA Commission that students were bribed with Celsius drinks by pro-Israel campus groups to vote unfavorably on the referendum.
SEE: UMD SGA Commission Finds Students Were Bribed to Vote Unfavorably on Divestment Referendum
In a statement posted to their social media, UMD’s Students for Justice in Palestine said in part:
“Time and time and time again – in 2017, 2019 and again in 2024 – students on this campus have risen to demand justice for the Palestinian people as they endure military occupation, genocide and ethnic cleansing. And each time it was the students who led with courage and clarity while legislators chose to silence our voices and betray their duty by voting against the will of the student body. This year, once again, UMD students rose up to make it clear: we will not be complicit in war crimes any longer, we will not be silent and we will not stray from the fight for justice.”
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR Maryland Outreach Coordinator Kim Syuardi, ksyuardi@cair.com, 202-850-9293