FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Austin, TX — Today, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) filed a federal lawsuit against the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Texas Governor Greg Abbott, UT Austin President Jay Hartzell, officers of the University of Texas Police Department (“UTPD”), and officers of the Texas Department of Public Safety (“DPS”). Joining ADC as co-counsel are the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), Webber Law, and Project TAHA. The Plaintiffs contend that the defendants orchestrated mass arrests, employed physical intimidation, and imposed punitive disciplinary actions on peaceful pro-Palestine protesters at the University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024.
The complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, accuses Governor Abbott and UT Austin officials of intentionally suppressing pro-Palestine speech, in violation of the First Amendment and Title VI. Officers enforced an “arrest quota” and arrested peaceful protesters without probable cause, employing excessive crowd-control tactics that included tackling students, zip-tying them so tightly as to cause bruises and numbness, and forcibly removing a Muslim student’s religious head covering. Even after criminal charges were dropped for lack of probable cause, UT Austin administrators imposed retaliatory disciplinary measures—academic holds, suspensions, and threats of harsher sanctions—to deter future demonstrations.
UT Austin violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by discriminating against Palestinian students and those associated with them. The plaintiffs, who include current and former UT Austin students, assert they suffered physical injuries, lived in fear of further punishment, and were directly targeted based on anti-Palestinian bias.
ADC seeks the following relief for the affected students:
- Declaratory Judgment that officials violated Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights.
- Reversal of Disciplinary Actions against student protesters.
- Compensatory and Punitive Damages for physical, emotional, and academic harm.
- Attorneys’ Fees and Costs under 42 U.S.C. § 1988.
“This lawsuit is about more than a single protest; it’s about safeguarding two of the most sacred rights in our democracy—free speech and peaceful assembly,” said ADC National Executive Director, Abed Ayoub. “Standing beside these courageous students means defending the very pillars of our Constitution and preserving the ideals that define us as Americans. Their bravery in the face of intimidation exemplifies the best of who we are, and this monumental case will help ensure that our fundamental liberties remain strong for generations to come.”
“These plaintiffs demonstrated extraordinary courage by speaking out against the genocide in Palestine—a choice that lies at the heart of our American tradition of dissent. State officials responded by brutalizing and arresting them with the explicit goal of suppressing their speech,” said ADC Legal Director, Chris Godshall-Bennett. “What happened at UT Austin is but one example of the attacks on student activists’ rights that paved the way for the escalation we are seeing today. We have not forgotten what was done to these students and the officials responsible must be held to account.”
Christina Jump, Civil Litigation Department Head, Legal Division of MLFA, said, “Texas’ political leaders claim to support the First Amendment, and even passed a state law mirroring the First Amendment–specifically as to college campuses—in 2019. But they’ve shown they only uphold that freedom where it applies to viewpoints that align with their own. We proudly join the ADC in representing these students who suffered from that biased application of Texas’ own laws, as well as its outright violations of federal statutes. Free speech rights matter, for all groups and viewpoints, equally. Texas forgot that point.”
Chelsea Glover, Civil Litigation Senior Staff Attorney, Legal Division of MLFA, said, “We are proud to join ADC in representing students whose rights were violated solely because they spoke out to support Palestinians. UT is a public university bound by the First Amendment and Civil Rights Act, and Greg Abbott cannot commandeer a school to enforce his preferred perspective.”
Maria Kari from Project TAHA added, “This case is about justice—plain and simple. Our plaintiffs represent the best of what our democracy promises. Their courage must be celebrated, and their suffering must be addressed. The harm inflicted on them must be acknowledged, and those who orchestrated this assault on their constitutional rights—especially their First and Fourth Amendment protections—must face the consequences. The law is clear: peaceful protest is not a crime. It is a cornerstone of our democracy.”
Key Allegations
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- Viewpoint Discrimination
The lawsuit asserts that Governor Abbott and UT Austin officials intentionally suppressed pro-Palestine speech. Plaintiffs claim that officers operated under an “arrest quota,” as revealed by internal communications and overheard statements. - First Amendment Violations
Plaintiffs engaged in peaceful, constitutionally protected assembly on campus. According to the lawsuit, officials ordered mass arrests without probable cause, used overzealous crowd-control methods, and imposed disciplinary measures designed to chill future speech.
- Viewpoint Discrimination
- Title VI Violations
The complaint alleges that the defendants’ actions were also motivated by anti-Palestinian animus in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
- Unlawful Arrests
The complaint describes how multiple officers tackled students, tightened zip ties to the point of causing bruises and nerve injuries, and removed religious head coverings from Muslim women. Plaintiffs stated they posed no threat and complied with law enforcement directives. - Retaliatory Campus Discipline
UT Austin administrators continued to penalize protesters after Travis County dropped criminal charges for lack of probable cause. The lawsuit describes how officials imposed academic holds, suspended students, and threatened harsher sanctions if they appealed these outcomes.
Plaintiffs
- A second-year UT Austin student. Officers slammed her to the ground and zip-tied her so tightly that she experienced numbness in her hands.
- A recent UT Austin graduate. Officers tackled her face-down and pressed a knee on her neck, leaving bruises and nerve compression injuries in her wrists.
- A recent UT Austin graduate. Multiple officers forcibly grabbed and zip-tied her arms after she warned others to clear the area.
- A third-year UT Austin student who wears a hijab. Officers removed her hijab during arrest and left her with painful welts from tight zip ties.
Legal Claims
- Count I: Violation of the First Amendment (42 U.S.C. § 1983)
Officials targeted students for their pro-Palestine views, silencing their speech and arresting them without legal cause. - Count II: First Amendment Retaliation (42 U.S.C. § 1983)
- Officers arrested protestors because they expressed pro-Palestine views.
- Count III: Fourth Amendment Unlawful Seizure/False Arrest (42 U.S.C. § 1983)
Officers arrested protesters without probable cause and restrained them with zip ties that caused physical harm. - Count IV: Violation of Title VI (42 U.S.C. § 2000d)
Officials targeted students for their association with Palestinians.
ADC remains committed to ensuring that every person can exercise their rights to free speech and peaceful assembly—the bedrocks of our democracy. This lawsuit reaffirms our dedication to defending the Constitution from any attempt to stifle dissent. We applaud these students’ courage and call on institutions and communities across the country to protect civil liberties. We urge the public to follow this case closely and to join us in championing the principles that strengthen our democracy.