Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is also a potential candidate for the 2024 presidential race, along with Ray Rodrigues, the Chancellor of the State University System of Florida, have issued a directive to disband groups on Florida college campuses that have shown support for what they term as "Hamas terrorism."
Governor DeSantis has been forthright in his condemnation of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the death of over 1,400 Israelis. He has pledged that, if elected President, he will revoke student visas and deport foreign nationals who express support for Hamas.
In a letter addressed to the state's universities, Chancellor Rodrigues stated, "During a holy Jewish holiday, the recognized terrorist organization, Hamas, launched an unprovoked attack on Israel among those killed were babies, women, and elderly." He further noted that "approximately 1,400 Israelis have been killed, including 31 American citizens. Governor DeSantis, our State University System, and the Florida College System have condemned these attacks."
The letter specifically mentioned the National Students for Justice in Palestine (National SJP), which published a "toolkit" referring to the Hamas attacks as "the resistance" and asserting that "Palestinian students in exile are PART of this movement, not in solidarity with this movement." The toolkit encourages members to "normalize the resistance," and describes how "Gaza broke out of prison. Resistance fighters captured one of the bulldozers used to destroy Palestinian homes, and used it to breach the illegitimate border fence back into 48 Palestine."
Rodrigues emphasized that it is a "felony under Florida law to knowingly provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. He continued, "These chapters exist under the headship of the National Students for Justice in Palestine, who distributed a toolkit identifying themselves as part of the Operation AlAqsa Flood."
He further stated, "Based on the National SJPs support of terrorism, in consultation with Governor DeSantis, the student chapters must be deactivated. These two student chapters may form another organization that complies with Florida state statutes and university policies. The two institutions should grant these two chapters a waiver for the fall deadlines, should reapplication take place."
Rodrigues and DeSantis are committed to "ensure we are all using all tools at our disposal to crack down on campus demonstrations that delve beyond protected First Amendment speech into harmful support for terrorist groups."
The letter also hinted at "necessary adverse employment actions and suspensions for school officials," adding that "promoting excellent educational quality while providing a safe environment for all students is paramount."
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