Abbott orders colleges to revise policies amid unrest over Israel-Hamas conflict
SAN ANTONIO – As the Israel-Hamas continues to escalate tensions in the US, Governor Greg Abbott is taking his own steps to rid college campuses of antisemitism Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered all colleges and universities to revise their free speech policies and punish individuals who express antisemitism. The move comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hamas, which has escalated tensions in the US. Abbott has given Texas' public university systems 90 days to update their policies to address the rise in antisemitic speech on campuses, establish punishments including expulsion, enforcement on all campuses, and define antisemism in their policies. Free speech advocates have warned of potential legal implications if other universities follow suit, which could lead to lawsuits if they weaken their policies that weaken students' first amendment rights.
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SAN ANTONIO – As the Israel-Hamas continues to escalate tensions in the US, Governor Greg Abbott is taking his own steps to rid college campuses of antisemitism.
On Wednesday, he signed an executive order directing all colleges and universities to revise their free speech policies and punish individuals who express antisemitism.
It is yet another showing by the governor of his stance in the Israel-Hamas conflict -- and this time it is in the form of a potentially consequential executive order.
Abbott is giving Texas' public university systems 90 days to update their free speech policies to address the rise in antisemitic speech on campuses, establish punishments - including expulsion, ensure enforcement on all campuses, and define antisemitism in their policies.
In a statement, Abbott said, "The State of Texas stands with Israel and the Jewish community, and we must escalate our efforts to protect against antisemitism at Texas colleges and universities and across our state."
But free speech advocates warn of the potential ramifications of complying with this executive order.
"He can ask the universities to review their policies all he wants, but the First Amendment dictates only one outcome, which is that this type of speech protests and speech about Israel or Palestine that's protected," Adam Steinbaugh, attorney for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), said.
Steinbaugh added that no matter what the speech is, the First Amendment protects it and protects the public from this kind of executive order.
"Speech can be hateful, it can be deeply offensive to each other but that's what the First Amendment is supposed to protect speech that we find deeply offensive," Steinbaugh.
In a statement today from Joe Izbrand, the UTSA associate vice president for strategic communications and external affairs, said the university would comply with the executive order. The full statement reads as follows:
Steinbaugh says if other universities follow suit, lawsuits may follow, "If they weaken their policies to weaken students first amendment rights, I think that leaves them exposed to litigation. Yes," he said.