Legal Battle Erupts as Florida Bans Pro-Palestinian Student Groups

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Florida's ban on pro-Palestinian university groups, arguing that it violates students' free speech rights. The ban, ordered by Florida's university system and Governor Ron DeSantis, targeted chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) following tensions over Israel's conflict with Hamas. The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction to lift the state order blocking SJP from receiving school funds and using campus facilities. The ACLU argues that the ban infringes on students' right to associate and speak out on matters of public concern. Other universities, including Brandeis, Columbia, and George Washington, have also suspended or banned SJP chapters.