More than 100 people, including union representatives, local government officials, and Texas State students and professors, gathered at the Hays County Courthouse Thursday to protest the firing of TXST professor Thomas Alter. The importance of free speech and the dangers of placing limits on it were common threads, with speakers warning that the Alter case would have implications for not only the academic community, but for all of Texas workers.
On Sept. 10, Texas State University President Kelly Damphousse announced on Facebook that Alter, an associate history professor at Texas State, was fired for comments made at the online Revolutionary Socialism Conference.
”Conduct that advocates for inciting violence is directly contrary to the values of Texas State University,” Damphousse said in the statement. “I cannot and will not tolerate such behavior.” The behavior which Damphousse refers to occurred in a video posted on social media by a YouTube influencer which shows only a portion of Alter’s participation in the conference.
