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Judge allows pro-Palestine student protest groups to move forward with lawsuits against Texas universities

The plaintiffs successfully argued that by limiting pro-Palestinian protests, the University of Texas at Austin did not comply with a Texas executive order.

AUSTIN, Texas — A federal judge in Austin has granted pro-Palestinian student groups at Texas universities standing to sue their respective institutions.

U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman found that the plaintiffs "sufficiently pled injury" regarding university policies that complied with an executive order issued by Gov. Greg Abbott in March that limited anti-Semitic speech, and that the actions of university leaders limited pro-Palestinian speech.

Abbott's executive order instructed universities to update their free speech policies to limit anti-Semitic speech. According to KVUE's media partners at the Austin American-Statesman, the plaintiffs presented enough information and evidence to convince Pitman that university leaders did not comply with the order by limiting pro-Palestinian speech.

Pitman's clearance means the activist group Palestine Solidarity Committee can proceed with a lawsuit against UT President Jay Hartzell. The suit claims that the university violated the group's First Amendment rights after canceling their protest on April 24 and issuing them an interim suspension.

A spokesperson with the university said they will state their position on the suit in their court filing.

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