The suit - against DeSantis, a 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, and several state university system officials - seeks a preliminary injunction to a state order blocking SJP from receiving school funds and using campus facilities.
At least two Florida universities - the University of Florida and the University of South Florida - have SJP chapters.
Brandeis University has also banned SJP indefinitely, and Columbia University and George Washington University have suspended the group.
The schools have cited the national organization's support for the Hamas attack and said their campus chapters violated school policies.
Brian Hauss, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology project and counsel in the case, said the student plaintiffs in the state university system were victims of "guilt by association" in this case.
Persons:
Eduardo Munoz, Florida's, Ron DeSantis, SJP, George Washington, Florida Chancellor Ray Rodrigues, Brian Hauss, Hauss, Israel, Gabriella Borter, Colleen Jenkins, Howard Goller
Organizations:
Hamas, Columbia University, REUTERS, American Civil Liberties Union, Palestinian, Justice, University of Florida, University of South, U.S, ACLU, Brandeis University, George Washington University, Columbia, State University System, Florida, Technology, Students for Justice, Thomson
Locations:
Israel, Palestinian, New York, U.S, Florida’s, Palestine, Florida, University of South Florida, Gaza