Dear Florida College and University Presidents,
The Florida National Organization for Women (NOW) writes to emphatically support the rights of students to engage in peaceful protest on Florida college and university campuses without the threat of violence or repression.
We are concerned that in the past week Florida students have faced mass arrests, suspension, rubber bullets, tear gas, and extreme excessive force during their peaceful demonstrations. Many of the students on the front lines of these demonstrations are young women and femmes. The use of excessive force against these peaceful protesters is unacceptable, and perpetuates the oppression and violence that has historically been used to silence women and marginalized communities.
We don’t want a repeat of Kent State.
Central to feminist principles is the dismantling of oppressive structures that have historically silenced women and marginalized communities. By rejecting censorship and disproportionate punishment based on viewpoints, feminism seeks to cultivate an equitable and inclusive environment where all voices, especially those of women and marginalized groups, are not only heard but also respected.
As an organization rooted in feminist ideals, we demand that university administrators uphold these principles by refraining from censoring, disciplining, or disproportionately punishing individuals based on their viewpoints. While we acknowledge the importance of combating harassment and discrimination, we emphasize the need for an environment that nurtures robust debate and embraces diverse opinions, particularly those that challenge entrenched power dynamics and dominant narratives.
Furthermore, universities have a duty to protect students from discriminatory harassment and violence. This encompasses acts related to “shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics,” as well as “citizenship or residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity.”
As recently noted by the ACLU, while the Constitution protects offensive and even racist speech, it is imperative to differentiate between speech and impermissible harassment. Harassing a student by directing epithets at them or affixing offensive signs to their dorm room door constitutes harassment, not free speech. Similarly, speech that targets individuals based on their ethnicity or national origin, such as antisemitic or anti-Palestinian speech, is discriminatory and intolerable. Additionally, physically intimidating students by obstructing their movements or aggressively pursuing them are unacceptable conduct, not protected speech.
We acknowledge that Florida colleges and universities may need to enforce content-neutral protest policies to maintain order and ensure essential functions continue. However, these policies should not unduly restrict students’ ability to express themselves or be selectively applied based on the content of their speech.
We demand that you protect these students from violence and defend the rights of students and faculty to engage in peaceful protest and free expression. Our demand is deeply rooted in feminist values of inclusivity, equity, and empowerment.
We are holding you accountable to the core mission of higher education: to promote critical thinking, debate, and the exchange of ideas in a safe environment.
Sincerely,
Florida National Organization for Women (NOW)