Oct. 7 vigil moves forward at University of Maryland after court decision

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — A student-led vigil to mark one year since the start of the Israel-Hamas war will take place on the University of Maryland campus on Monday. 

The surprise cross-border attack one year ago — which caught Israelis unprepared on a major Jewish holiday — shook their faith in their leaders and their military, and its aftershocks are still rippling across the region. Around 100 hostages captured that day have not been returned, a third of whom are believed to be dead, and cease-fire efforts have ground to a halt.

In the lead-up to the anniversary, Students for Justice in Palestine began organizing an interfaith vigil on the UMD campus. School leadership initially said the vigil could not take place, before SJP took the school to court and won.

The court ruled Tuesday that administrators had violated Students for Justice in Palestine's First Amendment rights by canceling the group's vigil scheduled for Monday. UMD officials said they would honor the court's decision last week.

"The University of Maryland recognizes, and will abide by, the court's decision, and will work with all registered organizers of events requested for Oct. 7," UMD officials said Tuesday. "Even organizers, campus officials and UMPD will implement a plan that allows all events to proceed in accordance with the court's ruling." 

The Jewish Student Union of UMD has their own vigil scheduled for next Monday, to commemorate victims of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel and bring attention to the 97 hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas. 

The Jewish Student Union had supported the the university's decision to cancel Student for Justice in Palestine's event. 

"We are relieved that SJP will no longer be able to appropriate the suffering of our family and friends to fit their false and dangerous narrative," the Jewish Student Union posted to Instagram on Sept. 1. "While this is not an ideal situation, it ensures that our physical and psychological safety is protected on this day of grief." 

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore weighed in on the protest decision late Tuesday night. He said he felt the date of the protest was inappropriate. 

"I just learned of the federal court's decision allowing the protest to proceed. While I deeply respect the rule of law and due process, I think Oct. 7 is an inappropriate date for such an event. What I do know is that students at the University of Maryland have the right to feel safe, and we will work with local and University leaders to ensure their safety," Moore said.

Beyond the UMD vigil, there will be various rallies across the District to mark the solemn occasion, including one on the National Mall in support of Israel. The event is expected to have more than 5,000 people, as they march to the White House to demand the U.S. get its hostages back. 

Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 killed over 1,100 people including nearly 800 civilians, with many reports of rape and sexual assault against Israelis by Hamas fighters. 251 people in Israel, including seven American citizens, were taken hostage by Hamas on that day. 

These attacks sparked the Israel-Hamas war. Over 40,000 Palestinians inside Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank have been killed as a result of the conflict. Millions inside Gaza, and hundreds of thousands inside Israel, have been displaced since the war started.