Qaddumi v. Hartzell

Summary

In April 2024, the Palestine Solidarity Committee at the University of Texas at Austin organized sit-ins, marches, and an encampment urging the university to divest from companies linked to Israel. On April 24 and April 29, university police and state troopers dispersed the protests, arresting over 130 students and using tactics such as pepper spray and flash bangs. Among those arrested was student Ammer Qaddumi, who had attempted to mediate between protesters and police. While many charges were later dropped, the university imposed disciplinary sanctions on several students, including probation and suspension.

In August 2024, Qaddumi filed a federal lawsuit against the university, its interim president, and other officials, alleging that his arrest and resulting suspension violated his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Although a university panel initially recommended a deferred suspension, the administration appealed, and in October 2024 Qaddumi was suspended through August 15, 2025. The suspension barred him from attending classes, accessing campus, or earning academic credit. His lawsuit sought damages and injunctive relief to block further disciplinary action, but the court declined to lift the suspension while the case moved forward.

In June 2025, a federal judge ruled that Qaddumi’s First Amendment claims could proceed. The court found that he had plausibly alleged viewpoint discrimination and retaliation, allowing his claims against the interim president in his official capacity to move forward. Although the case remained active, Qaddumi’s suspension was still in effect as of that ruling, and the court did not grant any order to reinstate him or shorten its duration.