{"id":139456,"date":"2023-12-27T00:02:21","date_gmt":"2023-12-27T05:02:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=139456"},"modified":"2023-12-27T10:10:25","modified_gmt":"2023-12-27T15:10:25","slug":"pro-palestinian-groups-claim-order-to-deactivate-violates-first-amendment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/pro-palestinian-groups-claim-order-to-deactivate-violates-first-amendment\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida pro-Palestinian university groups say order to deactivate violates First Amendment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Groups claimed independence from National Students for Justice in Palestine<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Two Florida university chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine sued their schools and state officials, alleging a state order to deactivate the groups violated their First Amendment rights.<\/p>\n

The University of Florida and the University of South Florida SJP chapters both denied their groups had violated a Florida law prohibiting support for terrorism.<\/p>\n

Jacob Baime, CEO of the Israel on Campus Coalition, a pro-Israel umbrella organization, voiced support for the universities. He told The College Fix<\/em> in a statement emailed on Dec. 22 that \u201cFlorida did the right thing, and other states should follow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSJP\u2019s response to the massacre of Jewish families on 10\/7 reveals a violent, genocidal ideology spreading on campus,\u201d Baime said. \u201cUniversities must act decisively to protect all students. SJP chapters openly supporting Hamas\u2019 attacks cross the line from free speech to incitement and endorsing terrorism.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Fix<\/em> reached out on Dec. 19 via email and Dec. 22 by phone to both universities\u2019 media relations departments for comment on the lawsuits. Neither has responded.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Deactivation Order advances unsubstantiated claims that Florida\u2019s SJP chapters have violated the state\u2019s material support for terrorism Statute,\u201d according to the November complaint<\/a> from the UF chapter of SJP.<\/p>\n

The law defines<\/a> “material support or resources” as referencing \u201cany property, tangible or intangible, or service.\u201d<\/p>\n

The USF SJP complaint states<\/a> that \u201cgovernors cannot shut down lawful and peaceful student groups because of the views they express. The First Amendment forbids it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even more, \u201cdefendants have offered no evidence, and there is none, that USF SJP has ever provided any illegal \u2018material support\u2019 to any person or entity or acted at the direction of or in concert with a federally-designated entity,\u201d the complaint stated.<\/p>\n

The USF complaint also stated its SJP group \u201chas no financial relationship with National SJP. . . . USF SJP is fully autonomous from National SJP.\u201d<\/p>\n

The UF SJP \u201chas no formal relationship with NSJP other than sharing the \u2018Students for Justice in Palestine\u2019 name,\u201d according to UF\u2019s complaint. The name \u201caffirms UF SJP\u2019s solidarity with Palestine, and with other SJP chapters throughout the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

Florida Chancellor of Education Ray Rodrigues accused<\/a> both SJP groups on Oct. 24 of violating a Florida law that prohibits \u201cknowingly\u201d providing \u201cmaterial support\u201d to terrorist organizations, as The Fix<\/em> previously reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rodrigues\u2019 letter also stated that the SJP chapters at UF and USF \u201cexist under the headship of the National Students for Justice in Palestine.\u201d<\/p>\n

His deactivation order was \u201cbased on the National SJP\u2019s support of terrorism\u201d and issued \u201cin consultation with Governor DeSantis,\u201d according to the letter.<\/p>\n

Rodrigues based his assertions on the National SJP\u2019s release<\/a> earlier that month of a \u201cDay of Resistance Toolkit\u201d in support of Operation al-Aqsa Flood, Hamas\u2019s Oct. 7 attack on Israel.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, we witness a historic win for the Palestinian resistance: across land, air, and sea, our people have broken down the artificial barriers of the Zionist entity, taking with it the facade of an impenetrable settler colony and reminding each of us that total return and liberation to Palestine is near,\u201d according to to the \u201ctoolkit\u201d document.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe as Palestinian students in exile are PART of this movement, not in solidarity with this movement,\u201d the group wrote. \u201cThis is a moment of mobilization for all Palestinians. We must act as part of this movement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of our efforts continue the work and resistance of Palestinians on the ground,\u201d the group wrote.<\/p>\n

Education officials sought SJP groups\u2019 \u2018express affirmation\u2019 that they \u2018reject[ed] violence\u2019<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Officials appeared to backtrack on Rodrigues\u2019 order weeks after the publication of his letter, according to remarks<\/a> he delivered Nov. 9 at a Florida Board of Governors meeting.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth institutions [UF and USF] consulted with the Students for Justice in Palestine on their campuses, their registered student organizations,\u201d the chancellor said. \u201cThese organizations represented to [the] administration that they are not chartered or under the headship of the National Students for Justice in Palestine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe constitutions of both organizations, which were submitted by them at the beginning of the school year when they were registered as an active student registered organization, clearly state that their organization is not subservient or under the National Students for Justice in Palestine,\u201d according to Rodrigues. \u201cTherefore, the universities have not deactivated their university chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rather than continuing to seek deactivation, officials began \u201cworking with the two universities to seek an express affirmation\u201d from the groups \u201cthat they reject violence,\u201d \u201cthat they reject they are part of the Hamas movement,\u201d and \u201cthat they will follow the law.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Fix<\/em> reached out to both SJP chapters via Instagram or contact form on Dec. 19, asking whether the groups had been invited to provide these affirmations. No reply has been received.<\/p>\n

MORE: Brandeis University bans Students for Justice in Palestine<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

IMAGE: National Students for Justice in Palestine\/Instagram<\/p>\n

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