Silencing Speech: Trump's Executive Overreach

The World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) reports on a lawsuit filed by the Organization for Union Guarantees (OUG), a socialist organization, against the State University of New York (SUNY) and its administration. The lawsuit challenges executive orders issued by then-President Donald Trump that OUG claims were used to suppress their free speech rights on SUNY campuses. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that SUNY officials cancelled or impeded several OUG events, including meetings and film screenings, due to the organization's political views and criticisms of US foreign policy. OUG argues that SUNY officials acted under the influence of Trump's executive orders, which aimed to restrict dissent and critical speech, particularly regarding US foreign policy and perceived anti-Semitism. The lawsuit contends that SUNY's actions violated OUG's First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly. OUG claims that SUNY's actions constitute viewpoint discrimination and that the university's policies lack clear standards, allowing administrators to arbitrarily suppress dissenting voices. The suit aims to restore OUG's ability to organize and express its views on SUNY campuses without fear of censorship or retaliation. This case is presented as a significant legal challenge to the suppression of free speech on college campuses and the influence of presidential executive orders on academic freedom. find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/03/16/ougc-m16.html