Pro-Palestinian Protests Sweep US College Campuses Following Arrests at Columbia

Schools sought to diffuse tensions over Israel’s war with Hamas while struggling with where to draw the line between allowing free expression while maintaining campus safety.

USC ‘Redesigning’ Commencement Amid Campus Controversy Over Israel-Hamas War

The university’s decision was met with praise from pro-Israel organizations but condemnation from free speech groups and the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Citing Safety, USC Cancels Speech by Valedictorian Who Supported Palestinians

A First Amendment attorney expressed concern about cancelling events that could be perceived as censorship, and the possibility of other schools buckling to pressure.

Columbia’s President Testifies Before Congress on Campus Conflicts Over Israel-Hamas War

She took a more decisive stance than the presidents of Harvard and the UPenn, who gave lawyerly answers when asked if calls for the genocide of Jews would violate school policies.

Some Fear University of Michigan Proposed Policy on Protests Could Quell Free Speech

The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan said it is concerned the proposed policy, as drafted, will impair civil liberties on campus.

Two Students File Lawsuit Accusing MIT of Allowing Antisemitism on Campus

The lawsuit mirrors others filed since Oct. 7, including at Columbia University, New York University, Harvard University and University of Pennsylvania.

Federal Judge Dismisses Disney’s Free Speech Lawsuit Against DeSantis

Disney said it plans to appeal the federal judge’s decision. A separate lawsuit over who controls the theme park's governing district is still pending in state court in Orlando.

There’s a Wave of New Bills To Define Antisemitism, Triggering Free Speech Debates

Supporters say it’s increasingly important to add a definition that lays out how to determine whether some criticism of Israel also amounts to hatred of Jewish people.