Identity of Speakers
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n/a
Student
Other
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Rally or protest
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Right wing -
Incident Responses:
Rally or Protests
University administration invoked formal speech code in response
University administration changed university policy as a consequence
Other
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- Was Speech Code incident
Summary
In June 2024, Louisiana enacted Senate Bill 294, which removed acts of civil disobedience such as trespassing from free speech protections on public college campuses. The law also prohibited events or activities tied to groups designated by the U.S. State Department as terrorist organizations or foreign adversaries. Governor Jeff Landry signed the bill into law, and national groups like Turning Point USA publicly supported the measure. Critics, including civil liberties advocates, argued that the legislation could be used to suppress peaceful protest and discourage student activism.
The bill came after a series of pro-Palestinian protests in April and May at Louisiana universities including Tulane and LSU. These demonstrations, part of a national wave of activism tied to the Israel Gaza conflict, included encampments and calls for divestment. Lawmakers cited these protests as justification for tougher campus policies on disruptive behavior.
In October 2024, Governor Landry issued an executive order directing the Louisiana Board of Regents to review and strengthen free speech policies across public universities. The order emphasized the importance of protecting open dialogue and viewpoint diversity while also condemning ideological intolerance on campuses. It required universities to identify traditional public forums and report any barriers to free expression, ensuring that lawful speech would not be penalized simply because it was unpopular or controversial. Taken together, the new law and executive order sought to balance stricter limits on disruptive protests with formal protections for broad campus speech, though the approach sparked debate among students, faculty, and civil rights groups.
