Florida faces a second lawsuit over its effort to disband pro-Palestinian student groups

Source: Associated Press

Florida faces a second lawsuit over its effort to disband pro-Palestinian student groups

Updated 2:08 PM EST, November 21, 2023

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A second federal lawsuit filed against Florida over its effort to disband pro-Palestinian student groups claims the state is either ignoring or doesn’t understand First Amendment rights to free speech.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is representing the University of South Florida chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, claiming state university system Chancellor Ray Rodrigues’ order to disband the groups because of a statement made by a national group is unconstitutional.

“Neither the state of Florida nor its state colleges and universities are enclaves immune from the requirements and protections of the First Amendment,” the suit filed Tuesday reads. “But once again events suggest that Defendants either don’t know that or reject it.”

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a similar lawsuit last week representing a University of Florida chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-florida-education-hamas-75aa622978828d0f3cad53bb2c218038