A recently-posted Instagram video from Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) that has raised safety fears and alarm among members of the university community was taken down by SJP on September 2 at the university’s insistence, citing its non-discrimination policy.
SJP was suspended as a student organization last academic year, one of its leaders was expelled from the university, and three individuals were trespassed from campus until November 2028 as a result of a university police investigation into acts of vandalism on campus. SJP has been reinstated as a registered student organization following all university policies and procedures. University officials recently met with SJP leaders to reiterate the institution’s zero-tolerance enforcement approach.
The GMU Police Department has pursued its investigation into the August 2024 vandalism incident as far as the law allows, which included a home search of two leaders of SJP in November 2024. Despite these efforts, the Commonwealth’s Attorney declined to file charges based on the evidence presented.