In a recent lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dr. Rosemary Admiral and Dr. Ben Wright, professors at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), have accused multiple defendants, including UTD, the University of Texas System, and several state officials, of violating their constitutional rights. The professors allege that they faced religious and ancestry discrimination, retaliatory discipline, and unlawful arrest due to their participation in a peaceful protest advocating for Palestinian rights. The protest sought to challenge UTD’s investment in weapons manufacturers supporting the Israeli military and called for a rejection of Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order GA-44. The lawsuit claims violations under the First and Fourth Amendments, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and 42 U.S.C. § 1981.
The professors were arrested alongside students during a peaceful encampment at Chess Plaza on May 1, 2024. They claim that law enforcement used excessive force despite no violence occurring during the protest. Following their arrests, both professors faced campus bans and other professional restrictions imposed by UTD without due process. The plaintiffs are seeking declaratory relief to remove these restrictions, as well as compensatory and punitive damages.
Source: 325cv02843_DR_Rosemery_v_University_of_Texasvr_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Texas.pdf
