In a move that took many by surprise, Florida is shutting down some pro-Palestine student groups alleging concerns about their ties to terrorism.
In response to the Israel-Hamas war, the State University System of Florida deactivated two active National Students for Justice in Palestine chapters. These chapters were accused of having connections to groups associated with terrorism.
In a note sent to state university system presidents, Chancellor Ray Rodrigues discusses the “unprovoked attack on Israel launched by Hamas which killed babies, women, and elderly.”
The chancellor claims the group is violating state law.
The note reads, “It is a felony under Florida law to ‘knowingly provide material support . . . to a designated foreign terrorist organization. . .’ § 775.33(3), Fla. Stat. (2019). Here, National SJP has affirmatively identified it is part of the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood—a terrorist-led attack.”
This move has sparked debates about freedom of expression and safety on campus, with some arguing it infringes on students’ rights while others see it as necessary to ensure security.
While Rodrigues says the student chapters must be deactivated, the group is allowed to form another organization as long as it complies with Florida laws and university rules.
In recent days there has been a concerted effort to dampen pro-Palestinian support as some pro-Israel donors and organizations that give to UPenn and Harvard have criticized administrators and withdrawn their financial support with claims that universities have allowed pro-Hamas sentiment to be expressed with impunity.
“I do not like making something like this about money – but it appears to be one of the only paths that has any hope of mattering, and it has become clear that it is the only voice some of us have,” said hedge fund billionaire Cliff Asness, who just finished a five-year pledge to UPenn.
In other instances, law students who had received job offers from Davis Polk, and Winston & Strawn suddenly saw them rescinded when they expressed support for Palestine.
Earlier, a coalition of more than 30 student groups posted an open letter on the night of the Hamas attack, saying that Israel was “entirely responsible” for the violence that ended up killing more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians.
Within hours students affiliated with those groups were being doxxed, their personal information posted online. Siblings back home were threatened and Wall Street executives demanded a list of student names to ban their hiring. A truck with a digital billboard — paid for by a conservative group — circled Harvard Square, flashing student photos and names, under the headline, “Harvard’s Leading Antisemites.”
There seems to be no distinctions being made between support for Hamas and that for the Palestinian people and all criticism of Israel is being labeled anti-semitism.
