The Free Speech Hypocrisy of Texas Conservatives: A Study of the May 2024 UT – Austin Protests
The Spring 2024 Univerisity of Texas - Austin protests in the US over the Israel-Hamas War have thrust the issue of campus free speech into the spotlight. More specifically, the protests on Texas college campuses provided an opportunity for Texas conservatives to demonstrate their respect for the free speech and due process rights of minority political voices. Unfortunately, figures like Texas Governor Greg Abbott have squandered this opportunity.
The Conservative Free Speech Narrative
For the past quarter-century, conservative voices have been in the minority on college campuses. In recent years, campus conservative speakers and student groups have faced cancellations and shout-downs. Unlike the previous century when liberals primarily championed free speech, this century has seen conservatives arguing that free speech, due process, and fundamental fairness should extend to minority viewpoints.
The implicit promise in this narrative was that if conservatives ever gained majority status on campus and in state legislatures, they would fiercely protect the free speech and due process rights of non-conservatives. They implied they would never label non-conservative persons and positions as bigoted or racist to justify cancellation.
The Reality: Abbott's Response to UT-Austin Protests
This narrative has crumbled in recent months, particularly in light of Governor Greg Abbott's anti-free speech actions in April against the Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) at the University of Texas at Austin.
Are Abbott's pro-Israel efforts an attempt to curry favor with evangelical Christians, who are largely pro-Israel? If so, one could argue that Abbott is engaging in conservative identity politics with both evangelical Christians and conservative Jews.
The Context of the Protests
The PSC at UT-Austin began protesting Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza in April 2024. These protests were primarily in response to Israel's actions in Gaza following Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis. Israel's subsequent military campaign has resulted in over 37,000 Gazan deaths and 85,000 wounded as of mid-June 2024, mostly civilians.
It's crucial to understand that the PSC's protests are mainly focused on Israel's alleged war crimes since October 7th, not on antisemitic sentiment. This is evidenced by the fact that many of the anti-Israel protesters are themselves Jewish.
Abbott's Disregard for Free Speech Principles
Governor Abbott's social media posts during the first PSC protest at UT-Austin on April 24th blatantly disregarded the First Amendment's principle of free speech content and viewpoint neutrality. He called for arrests, jail time, and expulsions for students participating in what he labeled "hate-filled, antisemitic protests."
This raises questions: Would Abbott have made similar statements against pro-Israel protests? Would he label such protests Islamophobic and urge the jailing and expulsion of pro-Israel student protesters? It seems unlikely.
Abbott's stance not only abandons free speech content and viewpoint neutrality but also threatens students with expulsion and imprisonment solely for their political expression.
The Hypocrisy of Selective Enforcement
It's hard to imagine Abbott sending over 100 Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to arrest pro-life/anti-abortion student protesters, who are part of his political base. This selective enforcement highlights the political nature of his actions.
Abbott, as a lawyer, should be aware that even "hate-filled" protests are constitutionally protected by the First Amendment. No matter how repugnant the majority finds certain political expressions, they are still protected speech.
Historical Parallels and Lessons Unlearned
Abbott's actions eerily echo those of southern governors and university presidents 60 years ago, who adopted similar anti-free speech stances against civil rights advocates protesting for integration and race-neutral policies.
The modern American conservative movement, including the MAGA phenomenon, is largely based on opposing liberals' charges of racism and efforts to cancel views deemed insufficiently "tolerant" on social issues. Yet conservatives like Abbott now employ the same tactics they once decried.
The Path Forward
True conservatives should join liberals in criticizing Abbott's political expediency and his trampling of core constitutional rights. The Palestine Solidarity Committee at UT-Austin, regardless of one's agreement with their views, deserves the same free speech protections that conservatives have long demanded for themselves.
In conclusion, Abbott's actions reveal a troubling hypocrisy within the conservative movement regarding free speech. It's time for both conservatives and liberals to recommit to protecting free expression for all, even—and especially—for those with whom we disagree.