UT Austin Students Sue University and Governor Abbott Over Gaza Protest Arrests, Alleging Free Speech Violations

Four current and former University of Texas at Austin students sued the university and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, alleging their arrests and discipline during pro-Palestinian protests on April 24, 2024, violated their constitutional rights. The federal lawsuit, filed April 30, 2025, in U.S. District Court in San Antonio by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, accuses UT Austin President Jay Hartzell, Abbott, and law enforcement of suppressing free speech during a campus demonstration against Israel's military campaign in Gaza. The plaintiffs claim Abbott, with Hartzell's approval, ordered state police to conduct mass arrests, infringing on their First Amendment protections.

The students say they were peacefully protesting when law enforcement detained them, using intimidation and excessive force. "Governor Abbott and others are underestimating how much Americans value their First Amendment rights," said Abed Ayoub, ADC director. Plaintiff Arwyn Heilrayne, a second-year student, said, "It is reclaiming our narrative because we were treated as antisemitic criminals." Heilrayne described being knocked down and zip-tied by police, leading to a panic attack, a PTSD diagnosis, and the loss of a state legislature internship. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and damages, alleging the arrests and university sanctions aimed to silence dissent.

UT Austin spokesperson Mike Rosen defended the university, saying the response was needed to "preserve campus safety" and enforce protest rules. He noted most arrests involved non-university individuals. Abbott's office did not immediately comment, but during the protests, he posted on social media: "Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas." The lawsuit follows a wave of legal challenges against U.S. universities over their handling of pro-Palestinian protests in spring 2024, which saw hundreds of UT Austin students attempt encampments, met with police intervention.

The case reflects broader tensions on college campuses over free speech and the Israel-Gaza conflict. The 2024 protests, part of a national movement urging university divestment from companies tied to Israel, prompted significant police action. Similar lawsuits nationwide challenge university and state responses to pro-Palestinian activism. The UT Austin case could influence how campuses balance safety and constitutional protections as activists plan renewed protests in 2025.