Texas State U. fires professor who called America ‘bloodthirsty, profit-driven, mad’

A socialist professor accused of inciting violence was fired from Texas State University again this week after a court initially told the institution to reinstate him to his position.

The situation has prompted concerns about free speech, with one attorney telling The College Fix that even “rhetorical hyperbole” and “the endorsement of violence” are protected by the First Amendment.

In a public statement sent to The College Fix via email Wednesday, university officials confirmed that history Professor Thomas Alter was fired on Oct. 13. 

“After a thorough review of Dr. Alter’s conduct and the information provided during his due process hearing, President [Kelly] Damphousse has notified Dr. Alter that his employment at Texas State University has been terminated, effective immediately,” the university stated.

Alter initially was fired from his post Sept. 10 after a video of him speaking about effective political organization at the virtual Revolutionary Socialism Conference on Sept. 7 gained attention online. 

In the clip of his talk, Alter discussed how American socialists should best organize into an effective political party. He concluded with a controversial statement: “Without organization, how can anyone expect to overthrow the most bloodthirsty, profit-driven, mad organization in the history of the world – that of the United States?”

President Damphousse alleged that his words advocated for “inciting violence” and “amounted to serious professional and personal misconduct” in a statement addressing his termination on Sept. 10.

Alter sued the university just days later, claiming it violated his due process by firing him abruptly without sufficient review of the case and his First Amendment right to free speech. 

Hays County District Judge Alicia Key granted an injunction on Sept. 26 that temporarily reinstated Alter to his post while the university reviewed the situation.

The university media relations office told The College Fix in an Oct. 1 email that Alter was reinstated “with pay.” However, the university also stated that he was not “permitted to teach classes at Texas State until due process has run its course.”

When The Fix contacted the university again this week to ask about his second termination, the university pointed to its public statement. It previously declined to comment to The Fix on the active litigation.

Meanwhile, a free speech attorney expressed concerns to The Fix when asked about Alter’s situation.  

“Terminating a professor for speaking at a political event violates the professor’s First Amendment right to express himself as a private citizen on matters of public concern,” Zach Greenberg, faculty legal defense counsel at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said in a recent email. 

“Public universities cannot punish professors for their political speech,” he said.

“The First Amendment protects rhetorical hyperbole, the endorsement of violence, and the assertion of the moral propriety or even necessity for a resort to force. This ensures breathing room for the full and free discussion of public affairs,” Greenberg said.

The College Fix reached out to Alter’s lawyers for comment on the case. They did not respond; however, they told KXAN that Alter plans to appeal the decision.  

In a statement posted by the Socialist Horizon on Instagram, Alter said his firing is a “clear violation” of the First Amendment. The Socialist Horizon describes itself as a “revolutionary” organization working to build “a new socialist movement through class struggle, internationalism & unity.”

“To be clear, my termination is part of a broader political attack being carried out by the authoritarian far-right to crush democracy and democratic institutions in the United States in general and Texas in particular,” he stated. “But the charges leveled against me by the Texas State University administration do not stand up to the facts; I have truth on my side and I look forward to my day in court.”

The news of his firing prompted protests on the public university’s campus by faculty and students, including the Texas State Young Democratic Socialists, the University Star reports.

“We will not stand for the blatant attempt to stifle free speech at Texas State University. Join us [in] the campaign to reinstate Dr. Tom Alter and defend free speech,” the student group posted Tuesday on Instagram.

Alter received tenure in May, according to a university announcement.

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