Judge delivers major blow to free speech lawsuits brought by pro-Palestinian groups against DeSantis
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — A federal judge Wednesday denied requests by two pro-Palestinian student groups asking the court to prevent the DeSantis administration from kicking them off campus in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker refused to issue injunctions in the two high-profile free speech lawsuits largely because university officials have not enforced Florida’s efforts to punish the organizations.
While Gov. Ron DeSantis called for Students for Justice in Palestine groups to be disbanded — and even touted the move although it never happened — Walker determined that, since no actions have been taken against them, the “threatened deactivation remains...