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Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine still must abide by university’s no-politics policy, judge says
The University of Missouri must allow Students for Justice in Palestine to participate in its homecoming parade this upcoming weekend as long as the group abides by its no-politics policy, a federal judge ruled Friday.
The pro-Palestinian group recently sued the public university, alleging campus leaders violated students’ free speech rights by rejecting their request to participate in the homecoming parade.
U.S. District Judge Stephen Bough granted the Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine a preliminary injunction, and ruled that it has a “fair chance” of succeeding in its First Amendment claims against the university, the Missouri Independent reports.
Initially, the group wanted to display “Stop the Genocide” signage during the parade, The College Fix reported previously. However, it appears that the students may not be allowed to do so.
While Bough told the pro-Palestinian students that the university must allow them to participate, he also ruled that the institution’s policy prohibiting political speech in parade displays still may be enforced, according to the Independent.
The policy states that “the purpose of the Homecoming parade is to celebrate Mizzou and its supporters. It is not a venue for protests.”
The university also rejected several other groups’ participation requests, including Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and the League of Women Voters, NPR Kansas City reports.
During a hearing last week, attorneys for university President Mun Choi told the judge that the pro-Palestinian student group’s request was rejected, in part, because of “safety concerns,” according to the Independent.
In one case attorneys brought up, a member of the pro-Palestinian group received student conduct charges “for stalking and a restriction that limits her presence on campus to academic purposes,” the report states.
The lawyers also cited examples of violence at pro-Palestinian protests on campuses nationwide, according to the report.
However, the judge rejected the argument, ruling that while safety is a “significant [governmental] interest,” the examples involved only one student from the group, not the group as a whole.
On Friday, attorney Ahmad Kaki with the Council on American-Islamic Relations National described the judge’s ruling as a “victory” for the students. The council is representing the Mizzou student group.
“We and Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine see this as a victory for students across the country who seek to speak out on behalf of the Palestinians in Gaza who are currently undergoing a genocide,” Kaki said in a statement to KOMU News. “Hopefully, other public universities will hear the same message.”
MORE: Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine sue over parade exclusion
