A professor is suing Texas State for allegedly violating his rights after he was placed on leave and notified his contract would not be renewed after comments he made speaking at an event.
On June 29, 2024, Assistant Philosophy Professor Idris Robinson gave a presentation entitled “Strategic Lessons from the Palestinian Resistance” at an event called the “Another Carolina Anarchist Book Fair” in Asheville, N.C., according to a federal lawsuit filed in the Western District of Texas. Texas State administrators then placed Robinson on paid leave on June 6, 2025, nearly a year after the event and just one day after an Instagram account, run by an Asheville resident named David Moritz, made a post accusing Robinson of “encouraging terrorism,” “incitement to violence” and “glorification of terrorism,” during the presentation.
According to the complaint in the lawsuit, the notice that Robinson would be placed on leave promised a “thorough and impartial review,” where Robinson would receive “appropriate due process.” However, the next update Robinson received was Provost Pranesh Aswath informing him that his employment contract would not be renewed and that May 31, 2026 would be his last day at Texas State.
“The letter identified no reason for Professor Robinson’s non-renewal,” Robinson’s attorneys wrote in the complaint. “The letter indicated that the decision was reached ‘in accordance with established institutional policies,’ which require Board approval for change in faculty employment status.”
During the “Strategic Lessons from the Palestinian Resistance” presentation given by Robinson, three Asheville locals, including Moritz, attended the event and began live streaming. In a report by ABC 13 in Asheville, the three locals were assaulted after someone called them “zionists” and announced that they were live streaming the event. In a separate article on the incident, ABC 13 reported that four people pled guilty to assault in connection to the incident during the presentation.
Moritz claimed that Robinson “incited a mob” and encouraged the violence against him and the two other locals, however neither ABC 13 article ever mentioned Robinson. According to the complaint in his lawsuit, Robinson was never a suspect, or even a witness in the criminal cases tied to the incident.
Moritz did not respond to a request to comment.
The Texas State Employees Union (TSEU), which Robinson is a member of, claims that he was targeted because of his support for a free Palestine. They drew comparisons to other incidents, such as the termination of former Associate History Professor Thomas Alter and the withdrawal of former freshman student Devion Canty Jr.
“This appears to be another case where the university chose political appeasement over its responsibility to defend protected political speech,” a spokesperson for TSEU stated in a press release emailed to The Star. “Faculty must be able to speak as private citizens without fear that coordinated harassment campaigns will cost them their livelihoods. This case is nearly identical to Tom Alter’s and shows once again that Texas State University President Kelly Damphousse would rather cede to political pressure than defend faculty.”
According to the complaint in his lawsuit and a motion filed in the case, during the event in Asheville, Robinson did not use any Texas State resources, discuss his connection to the university or encourage any students or faculty to attend the event. Instead, Robinson spoke as a private citizen.
“TXST’s actions violated not only the First Amendment, but also TXST’s Rules, which expressly protect ‘Speaking as a Citizen,’” Harris wrote in a motion for a temporary restraining order. “The plain language of TXST’s Rules state: ‘When the faculty member speaks or writes as a citizen, the faculty member should be free from Component [i.e. TXST as a component of the Texas State University System] censorship or discipline.’”
According to the lawsuit, Robinson is seeking for a declaration that his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated, to stop the university from further violating his rights, to prevent his termination, for damages and “other legal and equitable relief as the Court deems just and proper.”
Texas State University declined to comment due to pending litigation.
Neither Robinson nor Samantha Harris, his lead attorney, responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
This is a developing story. The University Star will provide updates as they become available.
