Students at UT-Austin continue protesting genocide of Palestinians amid state repression

Palestine in America agreed to not publish the names of interviewees due to concerns for their safety

As President Donald Trump’s administration continues targeting those protesting the ongoing genocide of Palestinians by Israel, organizers at the University of Texas at Austin (UT) recalled their experiences of campus protests last year. Students in Texas have faced additional state repression through Governor Greg Abbott’s support for Israel, as well as a higher education bill that passed in 2023 restricting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. 

The Palestine Solidarity Committee Austin (PSC) chapter organized a walkout, an art workshop, and a teach-in April 24, 2024, on the lawn in front of the campus’s main tower. Things quickly escalated when former UT President Jay Hartzell called in the Texas Department of Public Safety, leading officers to arrest 57 students and leave multiple injured. The next day, the university suspended PSC, claiming the organization violated campus rules. Students continued demonstrations through the last week of classes despite a lingering police presence that caused 79 more arrests April 29.

After Trump’s re-election, over 170 UT students, across all schools, have had their visas revoked or their immigration status changed. One of the students, Ziyan, was arrested at the protests in April 2024. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revoked her student visa in early 2025, prompting her to release a series of online statements saying she has preemptively fled and is now in political exile.

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