A federal judge sided with student protesters who claimed Florida International University violated their First Amendment rights when it punished them for violating a policy that bans “expressive activities” inside campus buildings.
On Sunday, U.S. Southern District of Florida Judge Jacqueline Becerra ordered the Miami-based university to halt enforcement of the policy and temporarily blocked disciplinary actions against the students, court records show. It’s not yet clear if FIU will appeal the decision, though university officials have previously maintained that the policy is compliant with the First Amendment and Florida laws.
“FIU applies its rules prohibiting protests and demonstrations in university buildings consistently, regardless of viewpoint. This ensures that classes, research, and academic spaces can function without interference or disruption,” FIU spokesperson Madeline Baro told WLRN earlier this year. “The University allows protests and demonstrations in outdoor areas, giving people a meaningful way to share their views, just not inside university lecture halls, labs, offices, or residence halls.”
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