A Texas State University professor has filed a federal lawsuit against the school, claiming he was wrongfully terminated over comments made during an off-campus event in 2024.
According to court filings, philosophy professor Idris Robinson alleges the university violated his First Amendment rights by ending his employment after a speech he delivered at an anarchist book fair in North Carolina. The event, held in Asheville, focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and was not affiliated with the university.
Robinson, who joined Texas State in 2022 as a tenure-track professor, is seeking to block the university from terminating his contract, which is set to end on May 31, 2026.
The controversy stems from a presentation titled “Strategic Lessons from the Palestinian Resistance.” Video clips of the speech circulated on social media in 2025, prompting backlash and complaints to the university. Critics accused Robinson of promoting violence, though his lawsuit argues he never encouraged or directed any violent actions.
Shortly after the video gained attention online, Robinson was placed on administrative leave. He was later informed that his contract would not be renewed, a decision he appealed internally without success.
In the lawsuit, Robinson contends the university acted in response to external political pressure rather than his job performance, noting he had received positive evaluations during his time at the school.
The case is the latest in a series of controversies involving faculty speech at Texas universities, raising broader questions about academic freedom and the limits of political expression by public university employees.
Texas State University has not publicly commented on the pending litigation.
