AUSTIN, Texas — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is suing Gov. Greg Abbott over a controversial executive order he made in the midst of pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses in Texas.
The lawsuit challenges Abbot's executive order calling on public universities to punish students found protesting in support of Palestine, claiming that the executive order violates the First Amendment.
The lawsuit was filed Thursday morning on behalf of students at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Houston.
"Throughout my time as Governor, supporting our law enforcement has remained a top priority. That’s why I signed laws that defund cities that defund police and made attacks on law enforcement officers a hate crime. Texas will always #BackTheBlue," Abbott posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, in an apparent response to the lawsuit.