https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2026/03/16/uf-college-republicans-deactivated-lawsuit/College Republicans chapter sues UF for deactivating club over Nazi saluteThe lawsuit also argues that university administrators were politically motivated, noting that the group recently hosted GOP gubernatorial candidate James Fishback.The University of Florida’s College Republicans chapter filed a federal lawsuit Monday, accusing the university of violating the First Amendment after administrators abruptly shut down the student group last week over antisemitic remarks attributed to one of its members.In the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Gainesville, the student organization argues the university unlawfully “deactivated and shut down” the club in retaliation for protected political speech. The suit seeks an emergency court order forcing the university to reinstate the organization and restore its access to campus facilities, funding and event privileges.
The College Republicans are asking a federal judge to declare the university’s action unconstitutional and award damages and legal fees.UF announced on Saturday that it was deactivating the student club because “members engaged in a pattern of conduct that violated its rules and values, including a recent antisemitic gesture.” An image of a club member performing a Nazi salute had been circulating on social media last week.The university also cited a recent resolution by the Florida Federation of Young Republicans — the collegiate arm of the state Republican Party — to dissolve and “reorganize” the group. The UF chapter, however, has said it is not affiliated with the state organization.None of UF’s public comments about the situation identify any specific remarks made by College Republicans members.The dispute is unfolding on a campus that’s home to one of the largest Jewish student communities in the country. UF is widely considered to have the largest undergraduate Jewish student population in the United States, with thousands of Jewish students and a robust network of Jewish campus organizations.The university’s order does not prevent the College Republicans from continuing to operate. In practice, however, losing recognition can sideline a student organization from campus life, stripping it of the ability to reserve meeting space, promote events through university channels or bring speakers to campus — all key tools for political groups trying to reach students. Recognized groups at UF can also apply for student government funding, be listed in the university’s official student-organization directory and recruit members at university-sponsored events such as involvement fairs.
The lawsuit argues the university acted after a member of the group expressed views off campus that critics said were antisemitic. The remarks — described in the complaint as “contested expression” — were political speech about current events and did not constitute threats or incitement, the filing says.University officials deactivated the organization because of the viewpoint expressed by the member, the lawsuit alleges.The lawsuit also claims the university attempted to justify its decision after the fact by saying it acted at the request of the Florida Federation of College Republicans — a third-party organization that the plaintiffs argue has no authority over the UF chapter. The chapter says it is not affiliated with the state organization and instead operates under the College Republicans of America.The group further alleges selective enforcement, saying other student organizations have remained recognized despite controversial speech by their members. According to the complaint, the university did not provide advance notice, a hearing or evidence that the group violated campus policies governing student organizations before deactivating the College Republicans.The lawsuit also argues that university administrators were politically motivated, noting that the group hosted James Fishback, a Republican gubernatorial candidate who has drawn criticism for racist and antisemitic rhetoric, at a March 11 event attended by more than 500 students. None of UF’s public comments about the situation mention Fishback.
The attorney for the UF chapter is Anthony Sabatini, a former Republican state lawmaker known for sparring with members of his own party. He is also representing Preston Damsky, the UF law student who sued the university after it expelled him over antisemitic social media posts.In an interview with the Times/Herald, Sabatini alleged that the state Republican Party targeted UF’s College Republicans chapter for promoting what he described as an “aggressive ‘America First’” agenda.“These guys are squarely in the Zoomer, more hard-edged, what I would call the true right, and they wanted to punish them for that,” Sabatini said.According to Sabatini, he is in contact with UF’s private attorneys from the boutique law firm Schaerr Jaffe. The firm did not respond to requests for comment. A UF spokesperson, Steve Orlando, said in a statement that the university does not comment on active or pending litigation.The College Republicans case is the second lawsuit the university has faced in roughly the past year over disciplinary actions tied to allegations of antisemitic conduct by students. In the earlier case, Damsky sued the university after it expelled him over social media posts that included a statement saying Jews “must be abolished by any means necessary.”A federal judge initially ordered the university to allow Damsky to return to class, finding the posts were likely protected speech under the First Amendment, though the ruling has since been tied up in appeals.
>nazis are just protesting and hanging out>zionists are committing genocide for an ethnostateWhat a timeline
>>1498763I mean, their position is basically, 'We hate jews so much that we literally can't stop slobbering Israeli cock'
>>1498763Zionism is Jewish ethno-fascism Nazism is German ethno-fascism
>>1498763>>1498767Is it any surprise that two groups of ethno-nationalists would find themselves safe under the same political party?
HAHAHAH SO "PROUD" THAT ALL 4 OF THEM HIDE THEIR FACESYOU LOST, NAZIS. AND YOU WILL ALWAYS LOSE. YOURE A JOKE WITH NO PUNCHLINE BUT PLEASE NEVER CHANGE YOU ARE PEAK COMEDY
I totally get being a right winger that hates Israel, that's completely consistent. I can not for the life of me understand why you'd hate Israel and choose to be a republicuck though.
Zionism is a scam in today's world.It was needed and legitimate back when Jews were being murdered in their own homelands.I'll use myself as an example.I just recently had a thorough DNA ancestry test.I'm 1/20th ashkeNAZI Jew on my mother's side and I can prove it which makes me eligible to retire in Israel and get freeland and get subsidized with American $.And on my father's side it turns out I'm 1/20th Metis 1st Nations people.Which means I can get subsidized by Canadian $ and get freeland and also get some of that casino money.100 yrs from now, whatever's left of the Palis, can apply for reparations.
>>1498774>No punchline>peak comedyFuck me why did I even come to this shit board
>>1498772Only ethno-nationalists tolerate other ethno-nationalists, for as long as they aren’t touching borders
>>1498758Nazi... Supporting Desantis. The guy that literally flys to Israel to sign a FL state law that benefits the Jews? I hate how stupid right wing people are. Rightism is a mental illness
>>1498814Zionists are literally Jew flavored Nazis
>>1498798THATS RIGHT NAZIS HAVE NO PUNCHLINE.THE SETUP NEVER ENDS. BUNCH OF COSPLAYING LARPERS LMAO
>>1498772It does seem fairly surprising to me that one party is simultaneously trying to make any criticism of secular Israel count as legally actionable antisemitism and also is full of actual antisemites who hate Jews specifically and Israel only because it is associated with Jews.
>>1498758LOOK AT THEM IN THEIR LITTLE GRAPHIC TEES AND PAINTBALL HELMETSSO PATHETIC ITS ADORABLE
>>1498777you will never be jewish, esl shill
>>1498861The only people Nazis and Zionists hate more than each other are browns and gays
>>1498861The OG nazis formed an alliance with Japan. Power means more to these people than ideals. See also how many MAGAs will believe whatever they're told to believe.
>>1498861no, they're a tiny minority. most republicans straight up worship jews and israelflorida republicans will probably push for new antisemitism laws just because of this incident
>>1498861antisemitism is what drives Jewish migration to Israel which is what both nazis and zionists agree is their favorite place to keep all the jews
>>1499039پیتزا ترنج
>>1498989>MEN CAN BECOME WOMEN!!!Hopefully none of them, but "MAGA's" opposition believes this.
>>1498758"neonazisneonazisneonazis" n guess what?Always coming from a crypto-jewish backgrounds
>>1499078The picture that got the nazilets in trouble in the first place literally had one of them trooned out in anime crossdress
>>1499124Most of you faggots own fursuits and wear diapers.
Probably a false flag, but Nazis don't concern me really.
>>1498772Nothing wrong with people being ethno-nationalists. They just cant be permitted to implement ethno-nationalism.
>>1498758>SS runes over Confederate flagThese people aren't particularly smart, are they?
