In a recent development, it has been revealed that two Florida chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) are still active, despite Governor Ron DeSantis' claim during a GOP presidential primary debate that he had disbanded them. The information came to light during a State University System Board of Governors meeting, where Chancellor Ray Rodrigues stated that the universities had not deactivated their SJP chapters.

During the debate, DeSantis acknowledged the controversy surrounding the student organizations and their alleged ties to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. He asserted that the groups had been deactivated, stating, "We deactivated them. We're not gonna use tax dollars to fund Jihad."

However, Rodrigues confirmed that both SJP chapters are not chartered by the national organization facing scrutiny from the DeSantis administration. The constitutions submitted by the chapters themselves at the beginning of the school year clearly indicated that they operate independently from the national SJP. As a result, the universities have refrained from deactivating the student chapters.

Rodrigues acknowledged that legal opinions have been obtained by both universities regarding the dissolution of these student chapters. The opinions raised concerns about potential personal liability for university actors involved in their deactivation. As a result, the board is seeking independent legal counsel and affirmation from the local SJP chapters that they renounce violence, disavow any affiliation with Hamas, and comply with the law.

The governor's office expressed frustration with university administrators, accusing them of creating bureaucratic obstacles and emphasizing the need to protect Jewish students from threats on campuses. However, DeSantis' push to defund the chapters received criticism from free speech groups, stating that the directive posed a threat to free speech rights and could lead to government suppression of political beliefs.

Governor DeSantis has previously advocated for greater free speech rights on college campuses. In 2019, he called on Florida schools to adopt the Chicago Statement, a policy promoting open dialogue and free expression. The move followed an incident at the University of Florida involving a controversial visit by White nationalist Richard Spencer.

State Representative Randy Fine, a former supporter of DeSantis, accused the governor of not taking swift action to address alleged antisemitism on college campuses. Fine expressed disappointment, stating that DeSantis failed to follow through on his promise to combat student groups supportive of Palestine.

As the situation unfolds, the State University System Board of Governors aims to navigate the complex legal and constitutional implications while ensuring a balance between free speech rights and concerns over potential affiliations with terrorist organizations.

In the meantime, the fate of the two Florida SJP chapters remains uncertain, as the universities continue to seek legal counsel and examine the constitutional implications of dissolving these student organizations.