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Isleen Atallah, a senior at Mizzou studying mechanical and aerospace engineering and former president of Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine, leads a chant after the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced the lawsuit against UM System President Mun Choi on Wednesday at the corner of Ninth and Elm streets. MSJP is being represented by CAIR and is seeking a declaratory judgment as well as damages (Elia Mast\/Missourian).<\/p>\n
Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine filed a lawsuit Wednesday in federal court challenging its exclusion from last year\u2019s Homecoming parade.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit was filed against University of Missouri System President Mun Choi. It claims he violated students\u2019 First Amendment rights by barring the group from participating in the parade because of their views on Palestine and Israel.<\/p>\n
At a news conference and rally Wednesday afternoon in conjunction with the legal action, an attorney from the Council on American-Islamic Relations said free speech is not subject to the \u201cwhims\u201d of the university president\u2019s personal beliefs.<\/p>\n
\u201cPublic universities cannot open events for the public for expression like they did with the Homecoming parade, then filter which viewpoints they want expressed at these events,\u201d said attorney Ahmad Kaki, who is providing legal counsel for the organization.<\/p>\n
Just ahead of the Mizzou Homecoming celebration in October 2024, Choi sent an email to the student group that banned them from participating in the parade.<\/p>\n
In the email to the organization, Choi declared that his decision was based on \u201csignificant disturbances\u201d that have occurred at Students for Justice in Palestine events around the country.<\/p>\n
Choi said he was also concerned about previous activity in Speakers Circle that involved a heated argument.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe issue is the safety of the event,\u201d said Mizzou spokesperson Christopher Ave at the time. \u201cLet me remind you, thousands of people come to a relatively small space in close quarters to participate in and watch the parade, and we felt that the best decision moving forward would be to move on without the group\u2019s participation, given what we have seen across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine said the local group was not affiliated with any national movement.<\/p>\n
The group said in a statement at the time that it was \u201cextremely disheartened\u201d by Choi\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt serves as a reflection of the constant marginalization and dismissal of the Palestinian cause, culture and overall existence,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n
According to the lawsuit, the student group had planned to showcase a traditional Palestinian dance and hand out Palestinian sweets and bracelets at the parade. Members of the organization also planned to march with banners reading \u201cCeasefire Now\u201d and \u201cStop the Genocide.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ave declined a request for an interview Wednesday but said in a written statement that the university would defend its decision in the lawsuit.<\/p>\n
The university\u2019s statement repeated that the decision was made because of safety concerns involving other Palestine-affiliated organizations.<\/p>\n
In addition to violating the First Amendment, the lawsuit claims Mizzou created a limited public forum with topics identified by the university. The group claims its participation fell within the boundaries of university policy.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit is asking for declaratory relief that the group\u2019s exclusion was unconstitutional under the First Amendment and seeks to enjoin the university from prohibiting the group from participating in the 2025 Homecoming parade.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit is also asking for compensatory and nominal damages for violating its rights and the costs associated with its Homecoming preparations.<\/p>\n
The former president of the group, Isleen Atallah, said during the news conference that the organization has already filed an application to participate in the 2025 Homecoming parade.<\/p>\n