Students sue Texas university, governor over Gaza protest arrests
Four current and former University of Texas at Austin students sued the college and Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Wednesday, alleging they faced unlawful arrest and retaliatory discipline for demonstrating against Israel’s assault on Gaza.
The lawsuit is among a wave of legal actions against U.S. universities, law enforcement and state leaders over their handling of pro-Palestinian student protests that erupted in the Spring of 2024.
According to court documents, Abbott, with Hartzell’s consent, directed state police to conduct widespread arrests that violated protesters’ First Amendment rights to assemble and express themselves.
In response to the lawsuit, UT Austin spokesperson Mike Rosen, citing the university’s statements following the arrests, said that the university acted to maintain campus safety and enforce protest policies, and that the majority of those arrested were not affiliated with the university.
