Texas students are facing a dangerous rollback of their constitutional rights. Senate Bill 2972, passed by the state legislature this year, bans most forms of expressive activity on public university campuses between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.—including protests, vigils, religious gatherings, music, and even campus journalism.

SB 2972 gives university officials broad power to shut down student expression and punish those who violate vague rules. Under the law, students and faculty can be disciplined for using microphones, building encampments, or simply wearing symbolic clothing during protests. Anyone participating must show ID on demand, and universities can limit where protests happen altogether.

The law was passed in direct response to peaceful campus protests in 2024, particularly around issues of Palestine and Israel. In some cases, police arrested students at the request of campus leaders. Lawmakers used these events to justify SB 2972—despite the fact that universities already had tools to manage real disruptions without silencing speech.

In October 2025, a federal judge temporarily blocked major parts of the law, warning that it likely violates the First Amendment and could chill student speech. The judge wrote that university officials cannot be trusted to enforce SB 2972 fairly and that students are left in legal limbo about what expression is allowed.

This isn’t just a policy disagreement. It’s a direct threat to free speech and protest rights on public campuses across Texas. Students should not have to censor themselves or risk punishment just because the clock hits 10 p.m.

We are calling on the Texas Legislature to repeal SB 2972 immediately and restore full protest and speech rights to students, faculty, and campus communities. Public universities are supposed to foster debate and dialogue—not shut it down.

Sign this petition to protect the right to protest in Texas—before more voices are silenced.

[Photo Credit: Madison Morris NBC News]