Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration ordered two major universities in Florida to remove Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters from campus Wednesday, citing the organizations’ support for “terrorism.”
Multiple student organizations at elite colleges and universities signed open letters or held rallies in support of Palestinians following the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, including the University of Florida and the University of South Florida. The chancellor of Florida’s university system, Ray Rodrigues, called on the colleges to disband SJP chapters Tuesday following their declaration of support for Palestinians, alleging they violated Florida’s antisemitism laws. (RELATED: ‘Violence Will Necessarily Continue’: Graduate Assistants Union Releases Statement Condemning Israel)
NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE – OCTOBER 13: Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during the 2023 First in the Nation Leadership Summit on October 13, 2023 in Nashua, New Hampshire. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
“Today, Governor Ron DeSantis ordered two state universities to deactivate chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) following their national chapter’s violation of Florida law against antisemitism. Governor DeSantis directed the Board of Governors to send notices to the University of Florida and the University of South Florida that their SJP chapters are to be removed from campus immediately,” Jeremy Redfern, press secretary for DeSantis said in a press release.
Student groups at some elite universities and colleges, including Harvard University, Columbia University and Yale University also put out statements supporting Palestinians following the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel.
“Hamas is responsible for this attack and claims it as ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.’ In the wake of this terror, military leaders of Hamas have called for the mobilization of Palestinians in support of the Operation,” a letter from Rodrigues reads.
“Based on the National SJP’s support of terrorism, in consultation with Governor DeSantis, the student chapters must be deactivated,” the letter continues.
At Harvard over 30 student organizations released an open letter Sunday in support of Palestine blaming the “Israeli colonial occupation” for the Hamas terrorist attacks. Following Harvard’s response to the student group letter at least one billionaire donor, Les Wexner, withdrew his support from the university and Billionaire Idan Ofer resigned from the executive board of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
SJP and DeSantis did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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