The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is treating its College Republican club’s pro-ICE political speech like a civil rights violation.
UIUC administrators reported the Illini Republicans — a registered student organization — to the Title VI Office, which investigates potential civil rights violations . . . over an Instagram post.
On January 28, Illini Republicans posted a message supporting immigration enforcement, along with pro-ICE some found offensive. That post may have offended members of the campus community, but it is core political speech protected by the First Amendment, and UIUC cannot investigate or punish it.
Two days later, UIUC issued a statement saying the matter had been reported to the Title VI Office, “which is reviewing reports received about the incident.” Even without formal discipline, announcing a “review” into protected speech chills student expression and signals that unpopular viewpoints may trigger an official investigation.
As a public university, UIUC must honor viewpoint neutrality and protect students’ right to engage in political advocacy — even when that speech is controversial. Tell UIUC to end its sham investigation; no public institution can impose disciplinary sanctions for protected political expression.
P.S. After you send a letter to UIUC, check out another poster controversy happening at Pennsylvania State University right now. At PSU, the poster is anti-ICE, demonstrating that these sorts of administrative actions silence everyone! Free speech makes free people, no matter what side you’re on.
