University of Florida suspends law student after white supremacist paper wins book award

Key points from the Left

• A University of Florida law student, Preston Damsky, won an award for a paper arguing that the Constitution applies only to white people.
• Damsky's controversial views, which included antisemitic statements, led to his suspension from the university for three years.
• After posting that Jews must be 'abolished by any means necessary,' Damsky was barred from campus.
• University officials expressed concern about the award's impact on the school's reputation and the safety of students, prompting discussions on responses to Damsky's actions.

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Key points from the Center

• University of Florida suspended 29-year-old law student Preston Damsky on April 3 after he posted antisemitic remarks and was barred from campus for three years.
• Damsky won a book award last fall for a paper arguing that the Constitution’s phrase 'We the People' applies only to white people and non-whites should lose voting rights.
• The paper, taught by Trump-appointed Judge John L. Badalamenti, also called for orders to kill criminal infiltrators and claimed political leaders were controlled by Jews.
• University of Florida Hillel condemned Damsky’s rhetoric and urged policy review after the award, while law community members called for clearer limits between offensive speech and violence.
• The controversy triggered a town hall in April where Dean McAlister stressed protecting the law school’s reputation and noted ongoing administrative efforts to address the situation.

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Key points from the Right

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