Florida Public Universities Ban Pro-Hamas Students Group

By Matis Glenn

Florida has instructed all of the state’s public universities to shut down a pro-Palestinian group which called Hamas’ October 7 terror attacks a “historic win for the Palestinian resistance.”

Chancellor Ray Rodriguez, in a letter Tuesday ordered all 12 of the state’s public universities to disband school chapters of the National Students for Justice in Palestine group, after consulting with Governor Ron DeSantis.

“Based on the National SJP’s support of terrorism, in consultation with Governor DeSantis, the student chapters must be deactivated,” Rodriguez wrote.

The ban marks the first time a state has banned SJP, which does not seemingly acknowledge the sovereignty of the United States and Canada, referring to them as “occupied Turtle Island,” and the “so-called United States and Canada.”

SJP had called on all of its approximately 200 chapters in the United States and Canada to organize a national “day of resistance” on October 12. The organization wrote of the terror attacks: “The resistance in Gaza launched a surprise operation against the Zionist enemy,” and “National liberation is near— glory to our resistance, to our martyrs, and to our steadfast people.” It also falsely stated that Hamas’ 200 hostages were all IDF personnel.

Rodriguez, who oversees the nation’s second largest public university administration in the country, explained that the national organization’s message to its followers, that “Palestinian students in exile are PART of this movement,” was in violation of state law which prohibits people “to provide material support … to a designated foreign terrorist organization.”

SJP maintains at least two chapters within the state university system, Rodriguez wrote. The University of North Florida in Jacksonville and Florida State University in Tallahassee have SJP chapters, Reuters reported, based on social media research.

Both the university system and DeSantis have condemned Hamas’ attacks.

Jewish groups hailed the decision.

“We have seen an unnerving development in Universities and colleges of remaining silent in the face of out right and unhinged anti-semitism and and hate towards Israel in a way that makes people truly feel unsafe,” Rabbi Moshe Matz, Director of Agudath Israel of Florida told Hamodia. “These events incite people and celebrate violence against Jews. It is vital that something be done and we do not remain quiet.

“Govorner Desantis is once again taking the lead on an issue that truly matters.”