Move FM Global News

TALLAHASSEE, Florida: Working with Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida’s university system ordered state colleges to close a pro-Palestinian student organization whose national leadership backed Hamas’ attack on Israel on their campuses.

As part of a state crackdown on campus demonstrations that provide “harmful support for terrorist groups,” Chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) had to be disbanded, said the State University System of Florida.

In a memo to university leaders, the system’s Chancellor Ray Rodrigues stated, “Based on the National SJP’s support of terrorism, in consultation with Governor DeSantis, the student chapters must be deactivated.”

Taking a hard line against Palestinians, DeSantis said that civilians in Gaza should be denied water and utilities until the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, releases the more than 200 hostages it took in its October 7 attack on Israel.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida said the actions of DeSantis, a candidate for the Republican 2024 presidential nomination, were unconstitutional.

In a statement, Howard Simon, the group’s interim executive director, said, “Instead of keeping students and the Jewish community safe, the government is simply silencing ideas it does not like.”

The National SJP said Hamas’ attack was “a historic win for the Palestinian resistance” and called for a “day of resistance” on October 12 with demonstrations by its chapters at over 200 colleges in the U.S. and Canada.

In response to the state’s move, the University of Florida SJP chapter told the Tampa Bay Times, “Governor DeSantis continues to disrespect American values such as freedom of speech to extend his political power.”

A spokesperson for Rodrigues said that the SJP also has a chapter at the University of South Florida.

Founded in 1988, Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by Canada, Egypt, the European Union, Israel, Japan, and the U.S.