SJP Dallas has filed a federal lawsuit against University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) administrators and campus police, alleging the university selectively punished pro-Palestinian expression in violation of constitutional free speech and civil rights protections. One current and four former UTD students are also individually represented by the lawsuit.

The 51-page complaint, filed May 15, names 19 defendants and claims the suspension was part of a pattern of “systematic intimidation and repression” against students exercising their First Amendment rights in support of Palestine.

This is not the first time SJP Dallas has gone to court over First Amendment concerns. In 2024, it joined a federal lawsuit against Gov. Greg Abbotts’s Executive Order GA-44, claiming that it disproportionately affects pro-Palestinian speech. This time, the concerns describe alleged surveillance, unlawful disciplinary proceedings, excessive force and unwarranted arrests and criminal prosecutions on campus.

Plaintiffs argue those actions violated the U.S. and Texas constitutions because UTD, a state-funded public university, cannot discriminate against students based on political viewpoint.

On May 16, 2025, plaintiff Belal Elseisy allegedly stood up and called out for UTD to “disclose and divest” from companies connected to the genocide in Palestine during the commencement speech delivered by then-President Richard Benson. He then walked out followed by several other students, causing a 28-second pause before the speech continued.

As the students left, the complaint states they were confronted by UTD police officers who demanded they vacate the university grounds and followed them for approximately 30 minutes.

During that time, the complaint alleges Palestinian flags were forcibly taken from the students and thrown into a trash can, despite other attendees being allowed to hold flags from different countries without repercussions.

According to the lawsuit, three days after commencement, Elseisy received a letter from Dean of Students Amanda Smith banning him from campus due to an alleged violation of the UTD student code of conduct. The complaint states the ban prevented Elseisy from attending his own graduation ceremony.

UTD police allegedly later went to Elseisy’s family home with an arrest warrant though he was on a trip in Japan at the time. The lawsuit alleges that UTDPD officer Eric Willadsen contacted DFW Airport police before Elseisy’s return, leading to his arrest upon landing in Dallas.

Elseisy later received a two-year suspension from UT System institutions, and Vice President for Student Affairs Gene Fitch affirmed the decision on appeal.

Another plaintiff, Chengyang Zhou, alleges he was also targeted after joining the commencement walkout. According to the complaint, Zhou walked hundreds of feet from the event before blowing his bugle. The lawsuit alleges Willadsen then grabbed Zhou by his backpack, pulled him backward and placed him in a chokehold.

The complaint says Zhou was unarmed and was not resisting Willadsen. It also states Zhou could not breathe or speak during the alleged chokehold. The University of Texas System Policy and Procedure Manual classifies chokeholds as lethal or deadly force and instructs officers “to employ only a degree of force that is objectively reasonable to gain control of an incident and compliance of subjects.”

Two weeks after commencement, Zhou was arrested on charges tied to his alleged actions during commencement walkouts. The lawsuit states that Willadsen claims that the bugle sound caused him hearing loss and tinnitus. The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office later rejected the felony case without presenting it to a grand jury, according to the complaint.

The filing also describes allegations involving plaintiff Casey Choi, a UTD graduate who was arrested after the May 2024 encampment. According to the lawsuit, Choi’s bond conditions allowed him to be on campus for “class and class-related activities,” and Choi believed his graduation ceremony qualified under that exception.

After walking the stage May 15, 2024, Choi received a call stating UTDPD had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for criminal trespass. The complaint states Choi turned himself in to the Richardson Police Department, was transported to the Dallas County Jail and was released after about three hours.

SJP’s suspension as a student organization is another central part of the lawsuit.

SJP received disciplinary notice Sept. 2, 2025, after OCSC said it had received a report about an incident that may have involved the organization during the commencement walkout.

On Feb. 6, hearing officer Leila Gary found SJP responsible for violating university policies. SJP appealed the decision, but Fitch affirmed the organization’s suspension March 12.

A March 24 notice from OCSC outlined the limits of the suspension, stating SJP was no longer entitled to the privileges of a registered student organization, including reserving campus space or using university resources.

At SJP Dallas’ suspension press conference, attorney Marwa Elbially argued the punishment was based on the content of the protest rather than the severity of the disruption.

“Students for Justice in Palestine is suspended for allegedly participating in a protest in which the former president of UT Dallas, Benson, had to pause his speech for 28 seconds. They’re suspended not because Benson had to pause, but rather because of the content of the protesters’ speech,” Elbially said.

During the conduct process, UTD cited chants such as “Who are we, SJP” and “We are all SJP” as evidence connecting the organization to the walkout. Plaintiffs argue those phrases are common protest chants and did not prove SJP organized or controlled the protest. The complaint also alleges there was discussion about linking students to Hamas and sending information to the governor’s office.

The lawsuit also alleges UTD monitored SJP more closely than other student organizations, claiming administrators watched over the group’s social media and reviewed event reservations while circulating information about SJP’s programming internally.

The complaint cites several examples of alleged monitoring. In one instance, the complaint states officials discussed SJP’s planned activity in Chess Plaza and adjusted the presence of the Speech Resource and Expression Team around the area.

The lawsuit also points to prior statements made by UTD officials as part of its argument of viewpoint discrimination. Student Government passed a pro-Palestine divestment resolution April 4, 2023 (S.R. 2022-40), recommending UTD divest from companies affiliated with genocide in Palestine. The complaint states then-university President Benson sent a letter to pro-Israel off-campus organizations, writing, “Please know that the UT Dallas leadership does not agree with this Student Government resolution.”

The complaint also cites UTD’s Oct. 17, 2023 statement to the campus community after Hamas’ attack on Israel, which expressed grief for Israel. Plaintiffs argue UTD has not issued a comparable statement acknowledging Palestinians killed in Gaza, using the difference as part of their claim that the university was not neutral toward pro-Palestinian advocacy.

By placing UTD’s disciplinary process in the broader history of campus protest, plaintiffs argue the case is about more than one organization’s suspension. Political science junior and SJP Dallas student organizer Aysha Ahmed said the group’s shift from SJP UTD to SJP Dallas reflected a movement beyond registered student organization status.

“This decision stems from the fact that our movement is so much larger than just a student organization,” Ahmed said.

The lawsuit asks whether pro-Palestinian activism at a public university was treated as protected political expression or punished as a viewpoint the university opposed.

Plaintiffs are asking the court to declare that defendants violated their constitutional rights. The complaint also seeks actual damages, punitive damages, attorney’s fees and other relief the court considers appropriate.

The Mercury has contacted multiple university officials and SJP representatives for comment.

In response to an email inquiry The Mercury sent to UTDPD Chief of Police Brent Tourangeau, the newspaper received a statement from the university’s media relations office. It reads: “Because this is a pending legal matter, we are unable to respond.”

Student Government President David Baker declined to comment on the lawsuit, saying Student Government is not “making public statements about the ongoing case between SJP and UT Dallas.”

The Mercury continues to report on this matter and will provide updated information as it becomes available.