USF Students for Justice in Palestine

Gov. Ron DeSantis directed universities to "deactivate" chapters of the group "Students for Justice in Palestine." The ACLU says he can't do that.

At a meeting Thursday, State University System of Florida Chancellor Ray Rodrigues said Students for Justice in Palestine chapters at USF and UF remain active.

The University of South Florida has remained silent after the state called for groups like USF's Students for Justice in Palestine to be disbanded at public universities.

State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues sent a letter to Florida university presidents with instructions to "deactivate" a pro-Palestine student group on campuses.

They described efforts to deactivate chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine on at least two campuses – including the University of South Florida – as an aggressive and likely unconstitutional application of a terrorism law because it would limit students' rights to protected speech.

Ahmad Saadaldin and members of the group USF Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) thought that this time, they were going to be successful. For over a…