Campus security checks a bag at a metal detector Oct. 7 where Terps for Israel were honoring those killed and kidnapped during Hamas attacks in Israel last year. Photo by William J. Ford.
Fears of violence did not pan out Monday, as pro-Palestine and pro-Israel groups held competing – and peaceful – events under a heavy security presence on the University of Maryland, College Park campus.
The university had tried to block all student-sponsored activities on Monday, the one-year anniversary of the Hamas terror attacks that killed 1,200 in Israel and sparked the Israel-Hamas war.
But a federal judge ruled last week that a ban violated free speech rights of the pro-Palestinian students who sued, and he ordered the campus to let the event take place, with whatever security was necessary.
At least four metal detectors were set up around a fenced-off McKeldin Mall where Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) held a day of educational activities and a vigil for the estimated 40,000 who have been killed in Gaza in the last year.
Another two metal detectors were placed on a fenced-off section of Hornbake Plaza not far away, where Terps for Israel reserved space that they labeled “hostage square” for students to stop by and remember those killed and kidnapped by Hamas.
University of Maryland, College Park campus security stand at one of at least four metal detectors placed at McKeldin Mall on Oct. 7. Photo by William J. Ford.
Campus security workers in yellow-and-blue shirts stood near both events, inspecting bags and checking student IDs. But as of early Monday afternoon, there had been no verbal altercations or other incidents.
The university’s police department declined to discuss details of its security presence for the day.
“However, when planning for any event, we take into account multiple factors, to include but not limited to, the weather leading up to and day of the event, location of event, ticketed versus non-ticketed event, and more,” according to an emailed statement from the department. “The safety and security of our campus community is, and will always be, our top priority.”
On Monday morning, members of SJP stood just outside the grassy area of McKeldin Mall, in the heart of campus, taping up a Palestinian flag and a sign that reads, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine is almost free.”
Members of the group handed out fliers with the headline, “FOR GAZA, WE RISE,” to students walking by. The flier included a description of the day’s events, the number of Palestinians killed and a “call for UMD to divest our university endowment from military contractors producing weapons that facilitate the genocide of Palestine and the imperialist brutalization of people worldwide.”
By Monday afternoon, the program turned to speeches by students talking about the liberation of Palestine, its culture and history. There were several chants such as “Free, Free Palestine!” and “The people, united, will never be defeated.”
Daniela Colombi, a junior and member of SJP, said liberation is a prerequisite for Palestinians.
Students gave speeches Oct. 7 in support of Palestine during all-day event at University of Maryland, College Park hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine. Photo by William J. Ford.
“In order for there to be peace, you have to have liberation. Without liberation, what form of peace is there?” she said minutes before teach-ins began at McKeldin Mall.
Not everyone who heard the speeches were students. Doug Foxbog, a retired computer scientist, said he traveled from Montgomery County to hear the students.
“I wanted to come to the University of Maryland to see if these are people who just here to support people’s rights, or religious hatred here, and I don’t see that at all. They are seeing the justice being done to civilians in Palestine,” said Foxbog, who had a button pinned on his jacket that read, “Free Palestine. End the occupation.”
A couple hundred yards away, meanwhile, a student group called Terps for Israel had turned the broad plaza in front of the Biology-Psychology Building into “hostage square.” The group erected eight, larger-than-life milk cartons with pictures and names of American citizens kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7.
The plaza was ringed with empty chairs, each of which had a photo and personal information on one of the remaining 101 hostages.
“We’re here to commemorate and let those who are not aware about what happened, and to let people understand that Oct. 7 was a huge day for the Jewish community,” said Elle Schanzer, a sophomore at University of Maryland with Terps for Israel. “Not just for those in Israel, but all of us are mourning this day.”
Both groups planned to hold vigils into the evening Monday.
Elle Schanzer, a member of Terps for Israel, talks about communities attacked in Israel that includes those killed at the Nova music festival. Photo by William J. Ford.
The presentation on the mall included other student groups supporting SJP, as well as a 30-minute presentation by the group Jewish Voice for Peace, to talk about the history of racism and antisemitism.
Hershel Barnstein, a senior at the university and member of Jewish Voice for Peace, attended last week’s court hearing in support of SJP. He sported a red T-shirt Monday with “Not in our Name” on the front, and “Jews Say Stop Arming Israel” on the back.
“I honestly think that today’s program has provided an opportunity to facilitate dialogue with people who either don’t know about it that much…or not sure what to believe,” said Barnstein, who was one the antisemitism speakers. “I hope this conversation can continue beyond today.”
Monday’s campus events were among the many around the state in recent days marking the anniversary, on both sides of the issue. They included an event Monday evening at Beth El Congregation in Pikesville, where Gov. Wes Moore (D), U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic nominees for Senate, were scheduled to attend.