(NEW YORK)— PEN America today criticized the University of Maryland’s decision to cancel a campus vigil planned for October 7, the one-year anniversary of the Hamas’ attack on Israel. The free expression group said “censorship” shouldn’t be the solution for complex or painful problems.
The University announced in early September that “only university-sponsored events that promote reflection” will be held on October 7. The announcement followed news that campus chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace planned a vigil for Palestinians killed in the past year in response to the attack. The university’s announcement amounted to a cancellation of this vigil.
In his announcement, President Darryll J. Pines said that there were no specific threats to prompt the cancellations but that the university had received numerous calls to cancel the vigil. The university will hold a “Day of Dialogue” in place of any student-sponsored events.
“Censorship is never the solution to complex or painful problems,” said Kristen Shahverdian, Campus Free Speech program director at PEN America. “This decision robs all students of their right to grieve, demonstrate, speak and be heard – a right that should be guaranteed every single day. We are troubled that safety is being used as an excuse to prohibit a demonstration because of its viewpoint, and we encourage the university to instead provide adequate security, resources for counter-programming for students who may be affected by or disagree with the demonstration, and to stand up for all students’ freedom of speech. While it is commendable that the University of Maryland is holding a Day of Dialogue and acknowledging the pain that speech may cause, censorship is not the remedy to harm.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations has filed a lawsuit on behalf of SJP, alleging that their First Amendment rights have been violated. While other universities have not instituted bans on demonstrations on October 7, numerous campuses have updated their free speech policies to restrict protest since the spring semester.
“We understand that university leaders are struggling to strike a balance between principles of free expression, and those of student safety and inclusion. But this is not a dichotomy,” Shahverdian continued. “True inclusion requires freedom of speech, and vice versa. We encourage universities to lean into their role as educational institutions to teach students how to disagree, how to listen, and how to use their voices. Canceling events, restricting protest, and clamping down on political speech sends the message that dialogue is only worthwhile if it takes place on the institution’s terms. We reject that premise, and we instead encourage an environment where even the uncomfortable, painful, or offensive can be discussed, debated, and challenged. Anything less threatens the core principles that allow our higher education system to flourish.”
READ PEN America’s previous statements about free expression and the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], (201) 247-5057