Paxton accuses UNT of “potentially” violating student’s right to free speech

September 19, 2025

By Mary Beth Gahan

Attorney General Ken Paxton has accused the University of North Texas of potentially violating a student’s right to free speech in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death.

In a news release posted to X, the Attorney General’s office said it sent a letter to UNT asking for more information about an incident when, it says, a student was asked to leave class after telling classmates that they shouldn’t celebrate Kirk’s death.

“University leaders have yet to enforce UNT’s student conduct code, employee ethics policy, and its official commitment to free speech,” the release said.

The University of North Texas did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Paxton’s letter or the student’s actions.

“I will not remain silent when our so-called institutions of higher learning stifle free speech and encourage an atmosphere of political terrorism,” Paxton said.

Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate and hopes to unseat incumbent John Cornyn, joins the list of Texas leaders who have been vocal about what can and cannot be said on campus at public universities in Texas in recent weeks.

After videos circulated of a student at Texas State University in San Marcos gesturing to his neck and mimicking how Kirk died, Gov. Greg Abbott chimed in.

“Expel this student immediately,” Abbott wrote on X. A day later, he confirmed he had been kicked out of the university.

Before that, a female was recorded telling a crowd at Texas Tech University, “Yo homie dead.” Later, the governor posted a picture of her being handcuffed.