Pro-Palestinian student groups at universities across Texas are calling on school administrators to reject an issued by Gov. Greg Abbot last week that could penalize their on-campus activity.
The order issued Wednesday requires all public colleges and universities to review their free speech policies and establish punishments 鈥� including expulsion 鈥� 鈥渢o address the sharp rise in antisemitic speech and acts on university campuses.鈥�
He directs schools to 鈥淓nsure that these policies are being enforced on campuses and that groups such as the Palestine Solidarity Committee and Students for Justice in Palestine are disciplined for violating these policies.鈥�
In a joint statement, several pro-Palestinian groups, including the Students for Justice in Palestine chapters at UT Dallas and UT Arlington, called the order 鈥渁 masked, targeted attack to slow the student movement for liberation across the nation鈥檚 college campuses.鈥�
鈥淲e condemn the racist campaign being launched in violation of our state and federal constitutions and reaffirm our commitment to fight for the liberation of Palestine on our campuses and communities,鈥� they wrote.
The groups are circulating a petition for students to sign calling on school administrators to protect students鈥� right to free speech.
In the executive order, Abbott notes that protests from multiple school organizations have featured antisemitic phrases such as 鈥渇rom the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,鈥� which he said calls for the violent dismantling of the State of Israel. The pro-Palestinian student groups say the order mischaracterizes their work.
Abbott鈥檚 order does not address anti-Muslim or anti-Arab acts.
The Texas chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations earlier this week called the order an "unconstitutional overreach," and .
