PHX Reporter

Merissa Hamilton, Chairman of Strong Communities Action, has commented on the absence of Democrats during the second hearing on free speech conducted by the Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on Freedom of Expression at Arizona’s Public Universities. The meeting took place at Arizona State University on November 27, raising issues around free speech and university policies.

"Austin Smith is 10000% correct! The Arizona House Republicans AZSenateRepublicans are constantly doing the job of other levels of government that exist as oversight bodies to PROTECT & DEFEND FREEDOM", said Merissa Hamilton.

The committee under discussion comprises a diverse set of legislative members. The Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on Freedom of Expression at Arizona’s Public Universities, consisting of both Senate and House members, including Smith, Rep. Lorena Austin (D-AZ), Rep. Beverly Pingerelli (R-AZ), Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales (D-AZ), and co-chaired by Rep. Quang H Nguyen (R-AZ) and Sen. Anthony Kern (R-AZ), convened for its second hearing on free speech at Arizona State University (ASU) on Nov. 27. No Democratic members were present at the meeting, stating, "The last time the Senate and House Democratic Caucuses joined this 'free speech' committee on July 18, it unnecessarily lasted five hours with no discernable value to the public," according to a press release from Arizona House Democrats.

This committee was created in response to specific incidents involving freedom of expression. Established earlier this year, the Committee aimed to examine freedom of speech at ASU following allegations that the university withdrew funding from the T.W. Lewis Center due to a conservative event on campus, resulting in the center's closure and job losses, including that of the executive director, Ann Atkinson. Atkinson organized the event at the Barrett Honors College, featuring speakers Charlie Kirk and Dennis Prager, known for their conservative viewpoints, according to 12 News.

In the course of their investigation, the University has released a comprehensive report. A report by the University, released in September, states that an extensive investigation, in which the University "reviewed thousands of documents including emails, policies and websites and gathered information from university employees involved" found no wrongdoing by the college. The review states that the University "did not find that any faculty members violated ASU policy with their actions in the classroom, did not find that university or Barrett administrators censored speech or interfered with advertising or attendance, and found no evidence that any of the speakers at the event were prohibited from speaking freely", according to the 75 page report.

There have been recent events contributing to escalating tensions between lawmakers and the university. Recent incidents have heightened dissatisfaction among conservative lawmakers with the university, particularly the pro-Hamas rallies organized by the ASU chapter of the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) in support of Palestine. The university was scheduled to host an event titled "Palestine is an American Issue," hosted by the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) group. However, the event, featuring Rep. Rashida Harbi Tlaib (D-MI), was ultimately canceled due to protests, according to the New York Post.

One particular comment made during this hearing captured significant attention. "You don't see any member of this group up here calling for the destruction of liberal groups on campus," said Rep. Austin Smith (R-AZ) during the hearing, according to footage posted to platform X. "I know plenty of other Democrats in this body call us fascists and right-wing extremists like they do other college students who are conservative. Shame on all board regents including Michael Crow for failing to condemn other conservative students but not the students for justice in Palestine. That's the state of public higher education in Arizona and across the country. Parents, you are playing Russian roulette with your children's future."