University of Florida GOP group sues after deactivation over antisemitism allegations

Published March 17, 2026 12:46pm ET



The University of Florida College Republicans group filed a lawsuit against the school on Monday, alleging its First Amendment rights were violated when leadership shut down the chapter.

The university said over the weekend it was informed that the Florida Federation of College Republicans had disbanded the UF chapter, after a social media post appearing to depict several members giving the Nazi “Heil Hitler” salute circulated online. In reaction, Donald Landry, the university’s interim president, said the school would proceed to deactivate the chapter as a registered student organization. Landry said findings indicated “some Local CR members” engaged in a “recent antisemitic gesture” in violations of school policy. The university is committed “to preventing and addressing antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and harassment,” he said. 

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