The New York State Senate has threatened to withhold millions—perhaps as much as $485 million—in funding.

FIRE reports.

New York Legislators Threaten CUNY Funding, Call for Banishment of Pro-Palestinian Student Group

The City University of New York (CUNY) system is facing increasing pressure, both internally and externally, to respond to anti-Semitism on campus—pressure resulting from calls by a pro-Israel organization to banish chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) from CUNY campuses. In the balance hang CUNY’s finances, as the New York State Senate, angered by “negative rhetoric and intimidation,” has threatened to withhold millions—perhaps as much as $485 million—in funding unless CUNY fulfills a vague request for a “plan” to respond to anti-Semitism on campus.

There is more than a passing concern that the funding threats—if not CUNY’s efforts to quickly respond to the criticism—could lead to censorship or have a chilling effect on campus activists. Some thirty-five New York State Assembly members today signed a letter to CUNY calling for the immediate suspension of SJP from all CUNY campuses, while CUNY conducts an official investigation which may see students (and faculty members) targeted for speech protected by the First Amendment.