Recently, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sparked controversy by tweeting a video showing law enforcement forcibly removing and arresting students who had been occupying the University of Texas-Austin campus.
This incident is part of a larger trend of antisemitic protests on college campuses nationwide. In one disturbing incident, a Jewish student was stabbed in the eye with a flagpole. Additionally, a leader of the Columbia University occupation was expelled after posting a threatening TikTok message.
While I have long advocated for the arrest of protesters who break the law, Governor Abbott’s rationale for the arrests was troubling. He stated that students participating in “hate-filled, antisemitic protests” should be expelled, implying that the arrests were justified due to the students’ beliefs rather than criminal activity.
Greg Abbott (Credits: The Independent)
Commentator Brad Polumbo pointed out the dangers of this approach, warning that it could lead to the arrest and expulsion of students for “transphobia,” “sexism,” and “racism.”
Conservatives, including Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh, also criticized Governor Abbott’s actions, emphasizing that there is no law against antisemitism and that protecting hate speech is crucial to a free society. Arresting students for their beliefs rather than criminal activity threatens free speech and open debate.
Furthermore, the arrest and assault of journalists covering the protests, including a local Austin Fox 7 photojournalist, is a disturbing attack on the free press. The criticism from the left has been severe, with some using satire to compare the government’s actions to those of authoritarian regimes like China.
Greg Abbott (Credits: Washington Post)
While the incident is troubling, it highlights the superiority of the American system, where protesters and journalists will face legal consequences for actual crimes, not speech.
The local district attorney has already declined prosecuting the students involved, and organizations like the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) are investigating. They will likely represent protesters whose rights were violated. The First Amendment will prevail, and free speech and the free press will endure.
