Texas’s conservative governor may soon sign a measure that opponents say would dramatically limit how more than a million students enrolled in one of the country’s largest public university systems are allowed to protest on campus, part of the Republican response to last year’s roiling student protests over the Israel-Gaza war.
Senate Bill 2972 prohibits protesting between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., or during the last two weeks of the semester; and bans students from camping or erecting tents on campus, or wearing a disguise to conceal their identity. It also bars the use of microphones and drums.
State Sen. Brandon Creighton, a Republican from north of Houston, wrote S.B. 2972 — dubbed the “Campus Protection Act” — which he and other Republicans in the Texas legislature have touted as the state’s response to nationwide protests over the Israel-Gaza war. Last year, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) called in more than 100 state troopers to clear out students attempting to occupy a campus lawn on the University of Texas at Austin.
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“While the world watched Columbia, Harvard and other campuses across the country taken hostage by pro-terrorist mobs last year, Texas stood firm. UT allowed protest, not anarchy,” Creighton said in a statement to The Washington Post. “No First Amendment rights were infringed — and they never will be. This is how we protect student safety, defend our institutions, and safeguard freedom for generations to come.”
Abbott, who has slammed the pro-Palestinian demonstrations as “hate-filled” and “antisemitic,” has until Sunday to sign the bill into law or veto it. Abbott’s office declined to say which action he would take. If the governor does not act by Sunday, the proposal will become law by default.
Republicans in Texas say the proposal will prevent campus disruption and intimidation seen during last year’s pro-Palestinian protests. But critics across the political spectrum, such as the free speech advocacy group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, say the proposal is too broad and threatens all forms of expressive activity.
“Wearing a MAGA hat or a Bernie [Sanders] T-shirt would be prohibited between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. because the political apparel is an expressive act, and therefore covered as an expressive activity,” said Tyler Coward, FIRE’s lead counsel for government affairs.
Under the proposed law, universities could bar a guest speaker from campus if school officials believe there will be a large protest, Coward said.
“Say [Turning Point USA] brings in Charlie Kirk … and the officials hear of possible large-scale protests against that speech, then the law almost sort of requires them to cancel that event in the last few weeks of campus, essentially giving the protesters a heckler’s veto over who can speak,” Coward said.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas also criticized the proposed law, saying in a statement that it “threatens the free expression of all Texans, regardless of political beliefs.”
“This bill imposes broad restrictions that allow school officials to restrict how, when, and where Texans can speak on campus — undermining the First Amendment rights of students, faculty, staff, and the general public,” said Caro Achar, engagement coordinator for free speech at the ACLU of Texas.
In a statement, Creighton said S.B. 2972 builds on the First Amendment protections outlined in an expansive 2019 law he co-wrote that said “all persons” had a right to participate in campus demonstrations. That bill was signed into law at a time when Republicans accused higher education institutions of censoring conservative voices. Creighton said there’s no daylight between the two bills.
“Both laws protect the First Amendment rights of students, faculty, and staff. S.B. 2972 ensures that speech stays free, protest stays peaceful, and chaos never takes hold,” he said.
The Texas legislature approved S.B. 2972 earlier this month, with nearly all Democrats opposed.
Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris told The Post in an email that the governor is closely reviewing more than 1,000 pieces of legislation that have been sent to his desk. Mahaleris did not say whether the governor would sign the bill into law, but FIRE has asked Abbot to veto the measure.
Senate Bill 2972 prohibits protesting between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., or during the last two weeks of the semester; and bans students from camping or erecting tents on campus, or wearing a disguise to conceal their identity. It also bars the use of microphones and drums.
State Sen. Brandon Creighton, a Republican from north of Houston, wrote S.B. 2972 — dubbed the “Campus Protection Act” — which he and other Republicans in the Texas legislature have touted as the state’s response to nationwide protests over the Israel-Gaza war. Last year, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) called in more than 100 state troopers to clear out students attempting to occupy a campus lawn on the University of Texas at Austin.
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“While the world watched Columbia, Harvard and other campuses across the country taken hostage by pro-terrorist mobs last year, Texas stood firm. UT allowed protest, not anarchy,” Creighton said in a statement to The Washington Post. “No First Amendment rights were infringed — and they never will be. This is how we protect student safety, defend our institutions, and safeguard freedom for generations to come.”
Abbott, who has slammed the pro-Palestinian demonstrations as “hate-filled” and “antisemitic,” has until Sunday to sign the bill into law or veto it. Abbott’s office declined to say which action he would take. If the governor does not act by Sunday, the proposal will become law by default.
Republicans in Texas say the proposal will prevent campus disruption and intimidation seen during last year’s pro-Palestinian protests. But critics across the political spectrum, such as the free speech advocacy group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, say the proposal is too broad and threatens all forms of expressive activity.
“Wearing a MAGA hat or a Bernie [Sanders] T-shirt would be prohibited between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. because the political apparel is an expressive act, and therefore covered as an expressive activity,” said Tyler Coward, FIRE’s lead counsel for government affairs.
Under the proposed law, universities could bar a guest speaker from campus if school officials believe there will be a large protest, Coward said.
“Say [Turning Point USA] brings in Charlie Kirk … and the officials hear of possible large-scale protests against that speech, then the law almost sort of requires them to cancel that event in the last few weeks of campus, essentially giving the protesters a heckler’s veto over who can speak,” Coward said.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas also criticized the proposed law, saying in a statement that it “threatens the free expression of all Texans, regardless of political beliefs.”
“This bill imposes broad restrictions that allow school officials to restrict how, when, and where Texans can speak on campus — undermining the First Amendment rights of students, faculty, staff, and the general public,” said Caro Achar, engagement coordinator for free speech at the ACLU of Texas.
In a statement, Creighton said S.B. 2972 builds on the First Amendment protections outlined in an expansive 2019 law he co-wrote that said “all persons” had a right to participate in campus demonstrations. That bill was signed into law at a time when Republicans accused higher education institutions of censoring conservative voices. Creighton said there’s no daylight between the two bills.
“Both laws protect the First Amendment rights of students, faculty, and staff. S.B. 2972 ensures that speech stays free, protest stays peaceful, and chaos never takes hold,” he said.
The Texas legislature approved S.B. 2972 earlier this month, with nearly all Democrats opposed.
Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris told The Post in an email that the governor is closely reviewing more than 1,000 pieces of legislation that have been sent to his desk. Mahaleris did not say whether the governor would sign the bill into law, but FIRE has asked Abbot to veto the measure.
