Three professors from Emory University have filed a lawsuit, accusing the university of violating free speech policies following arrests during a protest.

Three professors from Emory University in Atlanta have filed a lawsuit against the university, claiming that it violated its free speech policies by calling the police to disperse a protest in 2024, resulting in 28 arrests. The professors, including Noelle McAfee, stated that Emory failed to protect its students and its educational mission. The university rejected the allegations, asserting that it acts responsibly to maintain community safety. The lawsuit seeks damages for the professors' legal expenses, who were charged with misdemeanors but were not convicted. McAfee emphasized that students are afraid to protest due to repression, and the university reviewed its free speech policies after the incidents in 2024, banning certain forms of protest. This situation reflects a national trend in which universities limit pro-Palestinian speech.