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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: Administration Suspends Five Student Groups for “Intimidating and Hateful” Instagram Post

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University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

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On July 19, 2024, a coalition of five student groups at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee posted an Instagram story reading, “We refuse to normalize extremists and extremist groups walking around on our campus” and “Any organization that has not separated itself from Israel will be treated accordingly as extremist criminals.” On July 31, UWM Chancellor Mark Mone announced the groups’ suspension, citing the post. FIREwrote UWM on August 8 acknowledging that while UWM may investigate expression that comes close to the line of being unprotected, the First Amendment requires it to drop the investigation as soon as it determines the expression at issue did not cross that line. On September 5, after nearly seven weeks of investigation, UWM announced that the post in question did not amount to a true threat and lifted the suspension imposed on the five groups.

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