Texas State Professor Fired After Advocating Political Violence at Socialist Conference

Thomas Alter, an associate history professor at Texas State University, was fired after a viral video showed him speaking at the Revolutionary Socialism Conference, where he appeared to advocate for the overthrow of the U.S. government and political violence. University President Kelly Damphousse stated that Alter's conduct amounted to serious professional and personal misconduct and was contrary to the university's values, emphasizing that advocacy for violence would not be tolerated. Chancellor Brian McCall also condemned Alter's comments, describing them as inconsistent with shared values and grounds for termination. Alter criticized various political groups and stressed the need for organized revolutionary action, which university officials interpreted as incitement. This firing follows a similar recent case at Texas A&M University, where another professor was dismissed following political pressure over classroom content. Alter's faculty page has been removed from the university website, reflecting the institution's swift response to the controversy.