Lawsuit Filed Against Florida Over Ban on Pro-Palestinian Student Groups

The American Civil Liberties Union has challenged the ban imposed by Florida authorities on pro-Palestinian university student groups, stating in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday that the state is violating students' freedom of expression. This comes amid heightened tensions at American universities due to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Last month, university authorities in Florida, including Governor Ron DeSantis, ordered colleges to shut down branches of the organization "Students for Justice in Palestine," which has been at the center of campus activism since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. The lawsuit against DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate for the 2024 elections, and several officials in the state university system seeks a preliminary injunction to restrict the government decision preventing "Students for Justice in Palestine" from receiving student funds and using campus facilities. The organization has branches at least at two universities in Florida: the University of Florida and the University of South Florida.