Politics
SMU cancels CAIR-Texas youth event following state terrorist designation
Southern Methodist University called off the conference citing Texas' official designation of the advocacy group, which is currently contested in federal court.
The short version
- Southern Methodist University canceled an upcoming youth leadership conference organized by CAIR-Texas on its Dallas campus.
- The university cited Texas Governor Greg Abbott's state-level designation of CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization as the reason for the decision.
- CAIR is challenging the state designation in an ongoing federal lawsuit against Texas officials, asserting that the label violates constitutional protections.
Key facts
- Southern Methodist University canceled the CAIR-Texas 'Unapologetically Muslim' youth leadership conference scheduled for September 19 on its Dallas campus.[Fox News]
- SMU stated that hosting the event was inconsistent with its mission and policies given the State of Texas' current designation of the organizer.[Fox News]
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a state-level designation labeling CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations.[Fox News]
- CAIR filed a federal lawsuit against Governor Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton to block the designation, arguing it lacks legal support and violates constitutional rights.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- The legal validity and enforceability of Texas' state-level terrorist designation remain unresolved pending the outcome of the federal lawsuit.[Fox News]