Students sue Texas university, governor over Gaza protest arrests

AUSTIN, Texas - Four current and former students of the University of Texas at Austin sued the college and Texas Governor Greg Abbott on April 30 over alleged unlawful arrest and retaliatory discipline they allegedly faced over demonstrating against Israel's assault on Gaza.

The lawsuit is among a wave of legal actions against US universities, law enforcement and state leaders over their handling of pro-Palestinian student protests that erupted in the Spring of 2024.

Filed in the US District Court in San Antonio by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) on behalf of the students, the lawsuit accuses University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) President Jay Hartzell, Mr Abbott and law enforcement officers of intentionally suppressing pro-Palestinian speech at an April 24, 2024, campus protest.

According to the filing, Mr Abbott, with the consent of Mr Hartzell, ordered state police in riot gear to carry out mass arrests, violating protesters' First Amendment rights to assemble and express their opinions.

In response to the lawsuit, UT Austin spokesman Mike Rosen referred to statements the university made after the arrests saying it acted to preserve campus safety, enforce protest rules, and that most arrests were of people from outside the university.

Mr Abbott's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a social media post during the arrests, Mr Abbott said: "Anti-Semitism will not be tolerated in Texas."

Two students named in the suit said they wanted to protect others from the physical and mental harm they had suffered.

"It is reclaiming our narrative because we were treated as antisemitic criminals," said Ms Arwyn Heilrayne, a second-year student, who said she experienced a panic attack after she was knocked to the ground by police and had her wrists tightly zip-tied.

She has since had to leave an internship at the state legislature and been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of her arrest, she said.

Ms Mia Cisco said suing the university took on a new urgency as she watched the Trump administration try to deport foreign students for their pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"It's really vital and crucial right now to make sure that we say that it's not okay," said Ms Cisco, a third-year student, who said her hijab was forcibly removed by police following her arrest.

Dozens of demonstrators were taken into custody at the protest. They were released two days later after the Travis County Attorney's Office said charges were dropped.

All students arrested faced university disciplinary action, according to the lawsuit.

ADC director Abed Ayoub said: "Governor Abbott and others are underestimating how much Americans value their First Amendment rights." REUTERS