Lawmaker Tells DeSantis to Use Florida’s Antisemitism Laws to Expel Student Protesters
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — The Florida lawmaker behind “the strongest antisemitism agenda in America” wants to see public universities expel students for demonstrations in support of Palestine.
On Friday, Rep. Randy Fine (R-Brevard) published a letter he sent to Governor Ron DeSantis, calling on the governor to enforce the state’s existing laws aimed at curbing anti-Israel rhetoric.
“Any student organization that has attempted to ‘justify the killing of Jews’ which is chartered by any state college or university, must be expelled immediately, and any public funds be cut off,” Fine stated.
“Any student participating in the rallies of these organizations must be treated like a student screaming the n-word and calling for Black students to be lynched. They would be expelled.”
“Any faculty member who has propagated, excused or encouraged this genocide must be fired,” Fine added.
During the 2023 Legislative Session, Fine sponsored HB 269, entitled “Public Nuisances.” The bill was voted through the Florida House and Senate with unanimous approval and was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in Israel on April 27.
Fine has called Public Nuisances “the strongest antisemitism bill in the United States” and said in the letter that he crafted the “strongest antisemitism agenda in America.”
READ MORE: “Strongest Antisemitism Bill in the U.S.” Could Land You In a Florida Prison for Five Years
In 2019, DeSantis signed HB 741 – also while visiting Israel. It’s a law prohibiting expressions of antisemitism in public K-12 schools, colleges and universities.
Included in the state’s definition of antisemitism is: “Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews.”
“I am done passing bills,” Fine said in his tweet sharing the letter. “It is time to start using them.”
Hours after Fine shared the letter on X, DeSantis posted a tweet alluding to the legislation Fine referenced in his letter.
“We will not allow terrorists to prevent Floridians from going about their daily lives or exercising their freedom to worship,” the governor wrote in response to a photo showing a state trooper outside at a Jewish school. “[Florida Highway Patrol] and [Florida Department of Law Enforcement] will continue providing increased security. I expect universities to fully enforce all antisemitism laws on campus.”
FREE SPEECH AND ANTISEMITISM IN FLORIDA
Critics and First Amendment experts contend that Public Nuisances is unconstitutional.
“You can’t specifically single out certain groups, religious or not, based on symbols and clothing and say they have a right not to be offended,” Barak Lurie told The Florida Standard in April.
“The exception is ‘fighting words’ – that is, if someone is directly inciting violent acts against another person.”
Fine has admitted the bill was “inspired by antisemitism” but argues it “does not just affect Jews.”
HB 741, however, explicitly bans antisemitism in state-funded schools – and Fine is calling on the governor to use it to crack down on students and teachers publicly siding with Palestine.
After FIU students penned a letter supporting Palestine, Fine responded by saying: “I’m coming for you.”
On Thursday, National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) coordinated demonstrations on campuses across America as part of a “Day of Resistance.” At the University of Florida, a Jewish professor called the school’s local SJP event a “teach-in” that was “peaceful.”
In response to the “Day of Resistance,” the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs issued a press release claiming that SJP has ties to terrorist organizations and is a campus front for Hamas.
One key line in the text of HB 741 that law enforcement would be required to consider when reviewing potential incidents: “Criticism of Israel that is similar to criticism toward any other country may not be regarded as antisemitic.”
“THE GOAL IS TO DESTROY THEM”
In addition to his strongly worded letter, Fine routinely uses inflammatory rhetoric when commenting on the polarizing conflict.
On Monday, he asserted that: “Any American politician who is calling for a ‘humanitarian’ ceasefire versus launching full scale ground invasion to get American hostages back is a terrorist and should be tried for treason.”
Fine has also referred to pro-Palestinian protesters as “animals” and added hashtags #BombsAway and #StarveThem in his tweets about the conflict.
Last week, Twitter censored Fine’s account after he wrote: “The goal is not to achieve peace. The goal is to destroy them. From the river to the sea, Palestine will never be.”