老澳门开奖结果 Urges Federal Court to Block Florida Officials鈥 Unconstitutional Order to Deactivate Pro-Palestine Student Group

The 老澳门开奖结果, the 老澳门开奖结果 of Florida and Palestine Legal represent the University of Florida chapter of the Students for Justice in Palestine in a lawsuit against state officials.

January 26, 2024 3:24 pm

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. 鈥 Today, the 老澳门开奖结果, the 老澳门开奖结果 of Florida, and Palestine Legal argued that Florida officials鈥 attempt to deactivate the University of Florida chapter of the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) is a clear violation of the students鈥 constitutional rights to free speech and association.

鈥淭he court acknowledged today that words have consequences, and we believe that they have consequences in this case,鈥 said Brian Hauss, senior staff attorney with the 老澳门开奖结果 Speech, Privacy, and Technology project. 鈥淥ur client鈥檚 brave decision to challenge state officials鈥 attempt to restrict their speech sends the strong message that censorship is not only unconstitutional, but that it has no place in our schools.鈥

The 老澳门开奖结果 and its partners urged the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida to block Chancellor Ray Rodrigues and Gov. Ron DeSantis鈥 unconstitutional attempt to silence and punish the University of Florida chapter of SJP based on nothing more than the protected speech of the national SJP organization.

鈥淲ith more than 25,000 Palestinians killed and more than 60,000 wounded, we see our organizing for the end to all the violence in Gaza as urgent and continuing, and this looming deactivation threat has left us terrified and disheartened,鈥 said students with the University of Floridas chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine. 鈥淎s the judge rightly recognized, 鈥榳ords have consequences鈥 and no matter what the ruling is, we can't let the government silence us or others like us.鈥

For decades, students have participated in and benefited from the marketplace of ideas on college campuses, particularly with respect to pressing and divisive social and political issues. The Supreme Court has long recognized that right. As the 老澳门开奖结果 argued, Florida鈥檚 attempt to deactivate the UF SJP violates the groups鈥 constitutional freedoms by enforcing viewpoint-based restrictions on speech and association.

鈥淭his case is about protecting the role universities play as a place where important social issues can be vigorously debated 鈥 free from politicians鈥 attempts to censor viewpoints they disfavor,鈥 said Howard Simon, interim executive director of the 老澳门开奖结果 of Florida. 鈥淔lorida officials must protect free speech on campus and, at the same time, ensure that all students can pursue their education free from targeted harassment and discrimination. Silencing pro-Palestinian voices neither protects students nor keeps colleges campuses safe.鈥

The lawsuit comes at a moment when there has been a dangerous surge in efforts across the country to censor students and professors voicing opposition to Israeli and/or U.S. government policies.

鈥淎s the court recognized today, the words of officials have real consequences. SJP's activism sits squarely in the tradition of students speaking out against war and injustice,鈥 said Radhika Sainath, senior staff attorney with Palestine Legal. 鈥淭he deactivation order puts these students at real risk in a moment when their speech matters more than ever.鈥


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