‘FSU has made it clear that they intend to stand with Zionism on the wrong side of history by perpetuating the epidemic of political repression spreading across the nation’
Florida State University suspended its Students for a Democratic Society chapter after the group interrupted a board meeting by yelling “free, free Palestine.”
SDS, a socialist group, announced the suspension earlier this week on its Instagram. The suspension is a result of the group interrupting a November 2023 meeting at the public university in Tallahassee.
“SDS recognizes this as part of a greater surge of political repression across U.S. colleges against organizations that stand with Palestine,” the group wrote on its Instagram.
“FSU has made it clear that they intend to stand with Zionism on the wrong side of history by perpetuating the epidemic of political repression spreading across the nation,” the group further stated.
The suspension will not deter the group from opposing Israel. “SDS will not back down from its demands that FSU divest from settler-colonial Israel. Our support for a free Palestine is unwavering and is not contingent on recognition by the University, nor the support of governing bodies.”
“While these attacks may briefly divert our attention we will remain vigilant and steadfast in our mission,” the group wrote on its Instagram.
The group lost its approved status until May 2025, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. However, the group can appeal.
The group missed the public comment period in November last year because the board moved through its agenda items quicker than expected, the Tallahassee Democrat reported at the time.
FSU stated it supports free speech but that does not extend to disrupting “normal operations of the university.”
“As an educational institution, Florida State University welcomes free inquiry, diverse thought, rigorous debate and peaceful assembly,” spokeswoman Amy Farnum-Patronis told the Tallahassee Democrat. “However, students and student organizations may not disrupt university business, student learning or the normal operations of the university.”
While the group criticized “political repression,” it wants FSU to suppress freedom of association on campus.
In November of last year, prior to the board meeting, the group demanded the university stop partnerships with Boeing as well as Birthright.
It wrote on Instagram at the time, alongside photos of a march:
As of right now, FSU has partnerships with both Birthright and Boeing – Birthright sends Jewish students on a free trip to Israel to encourage the illegal settlement of Palestinian land; Boeing actively sends drones/weapons to Israel to further the genocide of the Palestinian people. We refuse to let our tuition money go towards genocide!
The group believes the terrorists who attacked innocent Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023 are part of the “resistance.”
It wrote on Oct. 10 of last year:
Celebrate Palestinian Resistance! Condemn Israeli Occupation, Aggression, and Genocide!
On October 7th, 2023, the Palestinian resistance, including multiple factions and groups, launched a brave assault, the al-Aqsa Flood, onto the Zionist entity Israel. Operation al-Aqsa Flood is the most successful method of Palestinian resistance since the 1973 Arab-Israeli War.
“SDS celebrates the Palestinian resistance. We support the al-Aqsa flood in their fight to end settlements, end occupation, end illegal blockade, end Israel’s genocidal threats, end Israeli war crimes, and take back the land stolen from them.”
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IMAGE: Florida State University SDS/Instagram
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