(The Center Square) – Gov. Greg Abbott is calling for the expulsion of students on Texas college campuses who are celebrating the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
This is after he called for public school teachers to have disciplinary action taken against them for similar conduct, The Center Square reported. Nearly 200 public school teachers and employees have been reported to be suspended or fired, according to statements issued by school districts and the Texas Education Agency.
At a memorial event held at Texas State University in San Marcos, a video was posted of a student mocking Kirk’s murder, which Abbott posted, stating, “Hey Texas State. This conduct is not accepted at our schools. Expel this student immediately. Mocking assassination must have consequences.”
Texas State President Dr. Kelly Damphousse next issued a statement saying he instructed university officials “to take immediate steps to identify the individual in the video. Behavior that trivializes or promotes violence is reprehensible and violates the values of TXST. It will not be tolerated. If this individual is found to be affiliated with TXST, appropriate action will be taken. Let me be clear: expressions that glorify violence or murder have no place on our campuses.”
This is after Abbott launched an investigation into San Marcos City Council members for “antisemitic rhetoric,” saying they could be in violation of state law, The Center Square reported.
Abbott also applauded the expulsion of 18-year-old Texas Tech University student,] Camryn Giselle Booker after she was arrested and charged with assault at a Kirk memorial event. In the video, she is seen dancing and swearing at students, saying, “f**k y’all, yo homie d*ad.”
Abbott also posted a video of the incident, saying, “Definitely picked the wrong school to taunt the death of Charlie Kirk. Thanks Texas Tech.” He also posted a picture of Booker’s arrest, saying, “This is what happened to the person who was mocking Charlie Kirk’s assassination at Texas Tech. FAFO.”
Abbott applauded Secretary of State Marco Rubio after he said he will rescind visas of foreigners celebrating the death of U.S. citizens, saying, “This is excellent. No hostile foreigners allowed.”
On Monday, Rubio said, “America will not host foreigners who celebrate the death of our fellow citizens. Visa revocations are under way. If you are here on a visa and cheering on the public assassination of a political figure, prepare to be deported. You are not welcome in this country.”
Rubio repeated what he has previously said about visa holders in the US inciting violence. “We are not in the business of inviting people to visit our country who are going to be involved in negative and destructive behavior. If we invite someone to visit the United States of America as a student, as a tourist, as whatever, then the standard they should be held to is very high,” Rubio said. “We shouldn’t be bringing people into this country, we should not be giving visas to people who are going to come to the United States and do things like celebrate the murder, the execution, the assassination of a political figure. And if they’re already here, we should be revoking their visas.”
Earlier this year, Rubio implemented a policy of revoking visas of students inciting or committing violence against Jewish students. Targeted Jewish violence escalated on college campuses nationwide after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack against Israel. In response, Abbott instructed public education institutions to crack down on antisemitism and ordered Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to arrest rioters.
Jewish attorneys also sued pro-Hamas organizations alleging they orchestrated and funded the incitement of and actual violence on college campuses. Attorneys of students and organizations advocating “Death to Jews” argue their actions and words are protected speech under the First Amendment. They also sued Abbott, arguing his order to arrest pro-Hamas rioters was unconstitutional. Abbott maintains they should be arrested, jailed, expelled and, when applicable, deported, The Center Square reported.
Abbott, a long-time supporter of Israel, was one of two governors to visit the country after the Oct. 7 attacks. Last year at a memorial event he said, “The world cannot have peace until Hamas is gone,” The Center Square reported.
After pro-Hamas rioters attempted to take over the University of Texas-Austin, State Sen. Adam Hinojosa, R-Corpus Christi, filed a bill this year to ban visa holders who support “terrorist activity at public institutions of higher education” from attending or working at Texas universities. It passed the Texas Senate but never made it out of committee in the Texas House.
A new law in effect in Texas clarifies that “expressive conduct” excludes commercial speech, defamation, unlawful harassment, incitement to imminent unlawful activity, obscenity, and threats to engage in unlawful activity, The Center Square reported.
