From: CAIR Daily News <info@PROTECTED>
Date: August 6, 2025 at 3:02:38 PM EDT
To: Susan Kuehn <smkuehn@PROTECTED>
Subject: Palestine Legal, CAIR Announce $100K Settlement from U of Md. for Suppressing Pro-Palestinian Speech | CAIR Condemns Speaker Johnson's Desecration of Palestinian Mosque | CAIR-FL, Coalition to Hold Gaza Protest at Rep. Wasserman Schultz’s Office
Reply-To: info@PROTECTED



In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful   The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “God divided Mercy into 100 parts and He kept its 99 parts with Him and sent down its one part on the earth, and because of that, its one single part, His creations are Merciful to each other, so that even the mare lifts up its hooves away from its baby animal, lest it should trample on it." Sahih Bukhari American Muslim News Briefs  Help CAIR save lives and protect civil rights. Gaza is counting on our advocacy. SUPPORT CAIR Palestine Legal, CAIR Announce $100K Settlement from U of Md. for Suppressing Pro-Palestinian Speech | CAIR Condemns Speaker Johnson's Desecration of Palestinian Mosque | CAIR-FL, Coalition to Hold Gaza Protest at Rep. Wasserman Schultz’s Office Palestine Legal, CAIR Announce Historic $100K Settlement from U of Maryland for Unlawfully Suppressing Pro-Palestinian Student Speech Civil rights organization Palestine Legal and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today announced a historic $100,000 settlement agreement for their client, University of Maryland Students for Justice in Palestine (UMD SJP), paid by the University of Maryland.   SEE: State board approves $100K UMD settlement on student-led Palestine vigil – Baltimore Sun   The settlement agreement resolves the October 2024 lawsuit filed by the civil rights groups on behalf of UMD SJP against the University for its unconstitutional ban of the students' vigil for Gaza.   This settlement likely marks the highest financial penalty ever imposed on a U.S. university for violating pro-Palestinian students' free speech rights.   This settlement comes as the Trump administration abuses its power to exert enormous pressure on universities —through investigations, threats to cut billions in funding, and requesting private student records — to intensify their punishment of morally-driven student protests and speech in support of Palestinian rights.   "This legal victory reaffirms our protected right to protest and speak out against Israel's genocide of Palestinians — and we will keep exercising those rights," said Daniela Colombi of UMD SJP. "UMD SJP will spend every dollar we receive from the $100,000 penalty for banning our vigil on organizing and supporting the movement for a free Palestine."   "UMD SJP's settlement with the University of Maryland demonstrates that violating pro-Palestinian students' First Amendment rights has tangible consequences, and that universities cannot continue to do so with impunity," said Tori Porell, senior staff attorney at Palestine Legal. "This win is not just for Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Maryland, but for all students speaking out for Palestinian freedom across the country.”   “The University of Maryland’s so-called October 7th blackout date was an obvious attempt to silence even the mourning of Palestinian lives,” said Ahmad Kaki, staff attorney at CAIR National. “We’re glad the Court saw through this transparent censorship attempt, and we hope this settlement sends a message to institutions across the country that capitulating to bad faith, anti-Palestinian pressure will cost you.” READ MORE CAIR Condemns House Speaker Johnson's Desecration of Palestinian House of Worship, Israel’s Ban on Entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque In a statement, CAIR said:   "We strongly condemn House Speaker Mike Johnson for joining Israeli soldiers in desecrating the Ibrahimi Mosque, which has been illegally occupied by Israeli settlers and was once the site of a massacre by Israeli extremist Baruch Goldstein. Speaker Johnson literally trampled across a place of prayer while wearing his shoes and taking selfies with occupation forces.   “Desecration of a sacred site, whether by violation of religious customs or by offensive political displays, is unacceptable. House Speaker Johnson’s actions are deeply disrespectful to the Muslim community in our nation and worldwide.” READ MORE CAIR-FL: Florida Interfaith and Civil Rights Coalition to Hold Emergency ‘Pots and Pans’ Protest and Vigil at Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s Office On Friday, August 8, the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Florida), together with a coalition of interfaith and civil rights organizations including Jewish Voice for Peace–South Florida, the South Florida Muslim Federation, Al-Awda South Florida, ICNA Council for Social Justice, and American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), will hold an emergency “Pots and Pans” protest and interfaith community vigil outside the district office of U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25).  READ MORE CAIR Condemns Return of Monument ‘Whitewashing Slavery’ to Arlington Cemetery  In a statement, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said:   "The return of this monument to Arlington Cemetery is a troubling attempt to glorify a legacy rooted in slavery and white supremacy. Monuments like this do not honor history—they distort it, erasing the pain endured by enslaved people and their descendants. Our nation deserves public spaces that reflect justice, equality, and truth—not a whitewashed version of history." READ MORE CAIR in the News CAIR-Chicago: Family of Palestinian American who died after Israeli settler attack calls for US intervention – The Guardian The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and Illinois congressman Chuy Garcia, also demanded an investigation into Ayyad’s killing. Video: CAIR’s Edward Ahmed Mitchell Calls on Trump Admin to Stop Gaza Genocide CAIR-GA: Emory lawsuit – Atlanta Journal-Constitution Mohammad is represented by the Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and attorney Jonathan Wallace. "Disguising this repression as a matter of ‘professionalism' or ‘conduct' is a moral failure - one that stains not only Emory, but the entire U.S. healthcare and education system," Mohammad said in a news release. 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