The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced a lawsuit against Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) on Thursday over an executive order that the group claims violates free speech on campuses.
The group, filing suit on behalf of the University of Houston Students for Justice in Palestine, the University of Texas at Dallas Students for Justice in Palestine and the Democratic Socialists of America, argues that the executive order makes it illegal to criticize the state of Israel. and chant phrases like: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
In the executive order, Abbott said the chant “has long been used by Hamas supporters to call for the violent dismantling of the State of Israel and the destruction of the Jewish people who live there.”
The order states that while free speech is a pillar at Texas universities, “with that freedom comes responsibilities.”
“The executive order clearly violates the First Amendment,” said Gadeir Abbas, deputy national director of litigation at CAIR. “Whether through law enforcement or expulsion, Texas cannot punish students for being on the right side of history.”
The University of Texas at Austin was one of the quickest schools to crack down on pro-Palestinian protests on campus, arresting more than 50 people hours after the rally began.
The lawsuit asks the court to prohibit Greg Abbott and the respective Board of Regents from enforcing the order due to its alleged unconstitutionality.
The Hill has reached out to Abbott’s office for comment.
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