opinion
Cops stop student revolt, Gov. Abbott creams his pants
Texas is butthurt about critics judging its government's take on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Cry me a river, Odessa.
Published April 29, 2024 at 5:30am by Bridget Grumet
Texas Gov. Abbott Sends State Troopers to Crush Pro-Palestine Protest at UT, Because Fragility
An unspoken confidence dies as students get the boot for exercising free speech rights.
An unspoken confidence animates healthy democracies. It’s the confidence that allows dumb ideas to be expressed because we faith that better views can win in the marketplace of ideas.
Too bad that confidence got trampled on Wednesday, when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent in the goons. Rows of state troopers, decked out in helmets, riot shields, and tiny little willies, intimidated and arrested over 50 unarmed, pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Texas.
"These protesters belong in jail," Abbott declared. "Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period."
UT tried to justify their bullshit by saying the Palestine Solidarity Committee, a student group, planned to "occupy" the campus. Occupying Wall Street? Sure. Occupy UT? Hell no.
Here's a thought: if you're worried about camping, tackle that problem. Take down their tents. Don't tackle and arrest nonviolent students for gathering on campus, you massive Bellend.
Mounted police, whose horses presumably needed to take a shit, pushed the crowd off-campus, with some spilling onto Guadalupe Street. It's cool though, because the police kindly warned them, "the horses will hurt you!" What a time to be alive.
Even after the trespassing charges were dismissed, UT still might discipline the students. Abbott, the fascist, tweeted that they "should be expelled."
This show of force isn't strength, it's political fragility. Texas can't handle dissent, especially when it comes from students with actual principles.
Tensions are high on campuses due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Some people spray-painted antisemitic slurs, others burned Israeli flags. Free speech is cool and all, but when it offends people, it's hate speech.
UT has a tough job keeping everyone safe. They need to distinguish between speech and actions that threaten others. But Abbott and his goons would rather silence dissent. They limit discussion of critical race theory, dismantle diversity offices, and ban LGBTQ+ books.
When the state shuts down speech with troopers, we should be alarmed. The First Amendment protects dissent. It's those unpopular opinions that need protection, not the mainstream ones.
On Thursday, protesters returned to UT to criticize Israel's bombardment of Gaza and call out the police. This time, campus police stood by and let them speak, probably because their horses were taking a dump.
It's a sad day when a university has more balls than the Governor.
*Disclaimer: This article is a work of satire and Angry Inceldom.*
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Read more: Troopers shutting down UT protest wasn't the show of strength Gov. Abbott thinks | Grumet