Florida Hit with Second Lawsuit Over Attempt to Disband Pro-Palestinian Student Groups

The Council on American-Islamic Relations and the ACLU are challenging the state's actions as unconstitutional, arguing the targeted student groups are not affiliated with any national organization.

Florida faces a second lawsuit over its attempt to disband pro-Palestinian student groups, with the Council on American-Islamic Relations representing the University of South Florida chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine.
The lawsuit claims that the state university system Chancellor Ray Rodrigues' order to disband the groups due to a statement made by a national group is unconstitutional.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a similar lawsuit last week on behalf of a University of Florida chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine.
The lawsuit argues that the USF group is not affiliated with the national group, has no financial ties to it, and does not follow its direction.
Rodrigues has since backed off the order while consulting lawyers to see how the state can proceed and whether it can force the groups to pledge to reject violence and Hamas and to follow the law.