Florida Gov. DeSantis bans pro-Palestinian student group

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the state’s university system banned a pro-Palestine student organization from university campuses.

The State University System of Florida said Tuesday it would dismantle chapters from the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) due to the group’s “ harmful support for terrorist groups.”

"Based on the National SJP’s support of terrorism, in consultation with Governor DeSantis, the student chapters must be deactivated," Chancellor Ray Rodrigues said in a memo to the university

The University of Florida chapter of SJP was quoted by the Tampa Bay Times as saying: “Governor DeSantis continues to disrespect American values such as freedom of speech to extend his political power.”

“To bend the law in this manner shows the utmost disrespect not only to any pro-Palestinian organization, but also to anyone who truly cares for political freedom and freedom of speech," it added.

DeSantis, who announced his candidacy for the 2024 US presidential race, has taken a hard line against Palestinians, previously suggesting that the US not take any Palestinian refugees fleeing Gaza because they “are all antisemitic.”

Palestinian, Arab and Muslim communities in the US have raised concerns recently about the Islamophobic, anti-Palestinian rhetoric in the country after Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.