COLLEGE PARK, Md. (DC News Now) -- Student groups held vigils across campus at the University of Maryland (UMD) Monday, marking the first anniversary of Hamas militants' attack on Israel, sparking a year of war in the Middle East. On Oct. 7, 2023, the terrorist organization Hamas launched an attack at a music festival in Israel, taking more than 250 people hostage and killing more than 1,200. Since then, Israel and Hamas have been at war, leaving more than 41,000 Palestinians dead in Gaza. ONE YEAR AGO: Hamas surprise attack stuns Israel, leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation Student organization Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) held a vigil to honor those killed in Palestine. “We will continue to fight for equality for all, for justice, for liberation of all people,” said Daniela Colombi, board member for SJP. “Today is October 7 and it marks one year of an escalating genocide against the Palestinian people after already over 76 years of occupation. Of a brutal occupation.” SJP held a day of events at McKeldin Mall on UMD's campus, ending with a vigil at 6 p.m. The events almost didn’t happen. Judge rules to allow Palestinian student group to host vigil on Oct. 7 at the University of Maryland The university originally permitted SJP to host the events back in the summer but then decided to ban all campus events on Oct. 7 after safety concerns were raised. SJP brought the university to court on First Amendment grounds. The court sided with the student group. “It’s a danger to the idea of the First Amendment to create a 24-hour free speech blackout. It would set a crazy precedent if we didn’t push back on it,” said Colombi. “We had to go to federal court to be able to be out here today. To be able to exist simply to say stop genocide.” She said it was important to hold their event on the one-year mark, despite criticism from some that it was “insensitive.” “We’re well aware that people who support the occupation might say those things. But it’s also our responsibility to make sure there’s no genocide denial,” said Colombi. Colleges brace for Oct. 7 anniversary “While I don’t agree with what they’re standing for, I support them doing their own cause. But, doing it on the 7th I think is a little bit disrespectful,” said UMD Senior Eytan Pomper. For Pomper, it’s personal. His family member Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was one of the people taken hostage by Hamas. He was later killed in August. “They were real people who were affected on October 7th from the Israeli side and there are real connections to it and real emotions,” Pomper said. He stood outside the SJP event with signs memorializing Polin and reminding people to never forget what happened on Oct. 7. “Just an attack on one side and portraying it as when the whole war started, I’m trying to create a personal perspective,” he said, responding to the SJP event. The University of Maryland Hillel also held a vigil late Monday night, calling for a return of all living hostages immediately.