A federal judge has ordered the University of Pittsburgh to lift its suspension of a pro-Palestine student group that Pitt officials argued violated school conduct.

U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan found Thursday that Pitt suspended its Students for Justice in Palestine chapter over speech protected by the First Amendment.

After a nearly six-month suspension, the university is now required to reinstate SJP’s full privileges as a student organization, including its ability to recruit new students and host events.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued Pitt on SJP’s behalf in April, several weeks after the March suspension tied to communications during a conduct hearing.

ACLU Pennsylvania Legal Director Witold "Vic" Walczak argued that this case demonstrates that speech “needs pro

See Full Page