Palestine Protests -- Five Takeaways in the Aftermath of UT Rally

Students Protest Israeli Apartheid, University of Texas Calls In Troopers & Hires Conservative Firm to Suppress Free Speech

Three months ago, pro-Palestinian students & protesters gathered at the University of Texas (UT) to demand the institution divest from companies complicit in Israeli war crimes. Instead of listening, UT President Jay Hartzell called in Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to suppress the demonstrations & arrested 57 people on April 24, then another 79 on April 29.

Since then, the university has:

• Hired FGS Global, a conservative strategic communications firm, for $75,000 to suppress information about the protests & repair their image.
• Laid off 16 staff members in University Marketing & Communications, citing "changing priorities."
• Changed their free speech policies to comply with Gov. Greg Abbott's antisemetic executive order, while actually limiting expression & giving the university more power to silence students.
• Spent over $8,000 on protest expenses, including $5,200 on barbecue for police & staff.
• Initiated disciplinary proceedings against student protesters, placing holds on transcripts & registrations.
• Offered deferred suspensions to some students if they accept responsibility & agree to review UT's changed speech policies.
• Suspended one student for two years, banning them from campus.

Despite UT's attempts to suppress free speech & punish protesters, the Travis County Attorney's Office dropped all 79 criminal trespassing charges against the April 29 demonstrators, recognizing their constitutional right to free speech. All 57 charges against the April 24 protesters were also dismissed due to "deficiencies" in the probable cause affidavits.

UT's response to these protests is a disgrace, and a clear attempt to silence anyone who dares to challenge the status quo. The university should be ashamed of its actions, and we stand with the students who continue to fight for justice.