Texas Governor Greg Abbott has a mixed record.
Sometimes he stands up for conservative values, and other times he bends to the establishment.
But Abbott was called out by the last person he expected for one shocking move.
Far-left protests have roiled college campuses recently, most notably at elite universities in the northeast.
Columbia University has essentially been overrun, and the school was forced to switch to remote learning for the remainder of the term.
The protests have been against Israel’s response to the horrific Hamas attacks against civilians on October 7.
Arrests made
At the University of Texas in Austin, pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested, and Governor Greg Abbott boasted about maintaining law and order.
He wrote, “Arrests being made right now & will continue until the crowd disperses. These protesters belong in jail. Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period. Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled.”
Arrests being made right now & will continue until the crowd disperses.
These protesters belong in jail.
Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period.
Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled. https://t.co/XhLlQdvUl0
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 24, 2024
One wonders why such arrests aren’t taking place on the border.
People on both the Left and the Right took note of Abbott’s insinuation that protesters were being arrested for “antisemitism.”
Principled take
Conservative Commentator Matt Walsh responded, “If you’re arresting them for an illegal encampment or for making threats then say that. But arresting people for ‘antisemitism’ is obviously a clear violation of the First Amendment. I can’t stand these protesters but you can’t arrest people simply for having ‘hateful’ views.”
Walsh’s comments were particularly eye-opening because he works at The Daily Wire, whose co-founder Ben Shapiro is arguably the most famous Zionist in America.
Walsh continued, “Did Abbott ever arrest BLM protesters for antiwhiteism? Is antisemitism the only hateful ideology not permitted in Texas? Are you legally allowed to hate some groups but not others?”
Wittingly or not, both Abbott’s and Walsh’s takes reinforce the notion that protesting the Israeli government’s actions is anti-semetic.
Governments and people are different things
While some protesters have surely spewed abhorrent anti-semetic things, the fact is simply protesting a government doesn’t automatically mean you harbor ill will toward a people.
As Walsh points out, out-of-control leftist protests have been happening for years all across the country.
In Washington State, Evergreen State College descended into madness when far-left students and faculty members occupied the president’s office and demanded he make concessions, which he did.
The number of radical protests on campuses that have spiraled out of control is too many to name.
During the year of George Floyd, illegal protests took place everywhere, even in red states.
Walsh’s point is that these illegal protests that crossed the line should have been shut down years ago.
Unhinged leftists must have their First Amendment rights protected, but they do not have the right to block roads and occupy other people’s property without permission.
The good news is that more Americans are finally waking up to the realities of campus radicalism and the messages and feelings that are used by the uni-party elites to reinforce.
Stay tuned to Unmuzzled News for any updates to this ongoing story.
