Students at UofL are planning to rally on Tuesday before the Student Government Association meeting — citing The Trump administration’s detainment of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, removal of funds from Columbia University, and, locally, the efforts by Kentucky legislators to curtail student speech through SJR55, and HB4.
What do the bills say?
SJR55 is sponsored by two Christian Republican members of the Senate, Lindsey Tichenor (6) and Robby Mills (4) that would require schools to adopt measures to combat antisemitism on campus. Schools already have policies for this. This bill intends to curtail speech that is critical of Israel’s war in Gaza and the genocide of Palestinian people. Both Jewish and Palestinian critics cite this bill as unnecessary and chilling to free speech.
HB4 is structured to end Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on college campuses. These bills claim that DEI policies offer preferential treatment based on sex, race, color, or religion, ignoring that the people who benefit most from these bills are veterans and white women. The bills erroneously claim that treatment is preferential for people in these groups instead of making it clear that all candidates must be qualified for their positions and that all qualified candidates are looked at equally.
When and Why are students rallying?
Students will rally on Tuesday, March 18, at 6 p.m. from outside the Red Barn near the SSAC (2100 S. Floyd St.) to the Humanities Quad towards the College of Business. The SGA meeting will follow at 7 p.m. at the PNC Horn Auditorium (110 W. Brandeis Ave.) where student senators will vote on a resolution asking the university to offer transparency about its investments and to commit the school to divesting from any investment or work that aids in Israel’s genocide, and apartheid around Palestine.
The SGA resolution is the result of campaigning led by the Louisville Student Union for Divestment. The organization is a coalition of student groups formed in October 2024 to put pressure on UofL to divest from Israel in the way that it did from South African apartheid in 1985. The students are asking the school to follow the precedent.
The President of the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science Student Association (KSSA), Daydrianna Jeffries (sponsor of the SGA “Resolution for Ethical Investment, and Divestment Transparency at UofL), and members of student unions and justice groups will speak.
