Texas State University is facing backlash after two male preachers, unaffiliated with the school, held controversial signs on campus reading "Women are property" and other inflammatory messages.
The protest took place the day after Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 election at Texas State University after heightened tensions over gender inequality and women's rights, Chron reported.
The protesters, described as members of the Official Street Preachers group, were condemned by many on campus, including faculty, for spreading hateful rhetoric.
Despite many students feeling outraged at the display, the university adheres to First Amendment rights, which protect free speech on campus, even when messages offend.
Other signs read: "Homo sex is sin," "Types of property: Women, slaves, animals, cars, land, etc.," and "Romans chapter on reads your sin of sodomy is 'worthy of death'."
The school's president, Kelly Damphousse, expressed personal disappointment over the incident but reaffirmed the university's legal obligation to uphold free speech in public places.
"I know how unsettling this must have been for our students, their friends/family, our employees, and our alumni who were in the quad at the time, or who later saw the pictures that I saw after the fact," Damphousse wrote on Instagram.
In response to the incident, Texas State has promised to review its protocols for handling controversial protests and ensure that campus safety and student well-being remain a priority.
"I hated to hear about what happened because I know this event surely caused a wide range of emotions amongst the members of our Bobcat family," Damphousse wrote. "This was particularly disturbing to me because nothing is more important to me than the health and safety of our faculty, staff, and students."
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