DeSantis, Florida university sued over ban of pro-Palestinian student group

State of play: State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues wrote a letter to university presidents last month, telling them their SJP chapters "must be deactivated."

• The move to deactivate the student groups came after the National Students for Justice chapter released a "toolkit" that Rodrigues' letter said was in support of the Hamas attack and in violation of a Florida statute.
• The decision, the letter said, was made "in consultation with Governor DeSantis."
• However, Rodrigues said last week that the groups were not deactivated since they are "not subservient or under the national Students for Justice in Palestine," per CNN.

Flashback: The student group previously told Axios in a statement that it found the "recent attempt by the DeSantis administration to shut down our chapter disgraceful."

• "If followed through, a precedent would be set to shut down any organization that does not align with the ideals held by Governor DeSantis," the group added.

The big picture: Tensions are escalating on college campuses across the U.S. over the Israel-Hamas war, as universities crack down on pro-Palestinian protests and students step up demonstrations.

What they're saying: "Florida's deactivation order chills speech, fosters an atmosphere of mutual suspicion and violates the First Amendment," the ACLU said in a statement.

• "Local student group chapters cannot be punished for their association with separate, national organization — nor can the government selectively punish and censor student groups for engaging in speech it doesn't like or agree with," the organization said.
• DeSantis and the SJP chapter did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Go deeper:

• Israel-Hamas war tensions at colleges throws Title VI into spotlight
• Israel-Hamas war becomes flashpoint on U.S. college campuses