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The University of Florida disbanded its chapter of the College Republicans after its secretary Dylan Estrella was photographed allegedly throwing a “seig heil” Nazi salute in an online video stream — the photo went viral. Now, the organization is suing the university for allegedly violating its First Amendment free speech rights.
In a statement, the university’s interim president Donald Landry said the university was “committed to preventing and addressing antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and harassment.”
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However, the chapter is being represented in court by Anthony Sabatini, who claims that the university is targeting the chapter for hosting longshot Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback on March 11, The New Republic reported.
Fishback, who opposes LGBTQ+ rights, has referred to his Black political opponent, U.S. Rep. Byron Daniels (R-FL), as a “slave” and claimed he wants to turn Florida into a “ghetto.” Fishback has also praised fans of white supremacist influencer Nick Fuentes as “incredibly informed and insightful and very patriotic.”
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This is just the latest neo-Nazi scandal to plague the College Republicans. Earlier this year, Dariel Gonzalez, the then-recruitment chair of the Florida International University College Republicans, was found to have participated in an online chat full of anti-gay, anti-Black, and antisemitic slurs, as well as misogynistic statements. One member even called the chat a “Nazi haven.”