Former Texas State University history professor Tom Alter, Ph.D., spoke about activism, community, solidarity and human rights on Feb. 11 at Santa Rosa Junior College’s Intercultural Center.
Long-time activist Alter was fired from his position at Texas State in 2025 for speaking at a socialist convention, losing his health insurance and income along with his job.
“I lost my livelihood,” Alter said. “While others such as Renee Good, Alex Pretti and Silverio Villegas Gonzalez lost their lives.”
His termination also inspired student protests that continued for days.
Alter is not the only person to be silenced for his opinion. A student from Texas State was forced to withdraw from the school or risk expulsion over comments made about Charlie Kirk, according to University Star.
With a lawyer provided by the American Federation of Teachers, Alter filed a lawsuit against Texas State. Rather than just waiting for the lawsuit to go through, Alter embarked on a tour with the goal of building solidarity.
SRJC English instructor Michael Hale introduced Alter to attendees and his students, which he brought to the speech in hopes of encouraging them to take on a solidarity mindset rather than one of charity.
“Solidarity extends in a more deeper and profound way,” Hale said.
This speech was a part of the national tour Alter has embarked upon since being fired. He shared his story and raised awareness about rising political censorship against students and instructors on campuses.
Alter voiced his concerns of the potential use of AI by “cyber fascists” to monitor social media and internet traffic for political dissent. Texas State recently implemented Campus IQ, an AI-driven network monitoring system that has the ability to track a device between different network access points.
“Trump recently signed an executive order preventing states from regulating AI,” Alter said. “And even more frightening, using AI to surveil social media to track and create profiles of individuals engaged in anti-ice protests.”
“Understanding our collective power that we all have,” Alter said. “To come together and realize that you’re not alone, to see our strength in numbers.”
Some found what was discussed at the event uncomfortable, but important to pay attention to.
“It’s hard not to pay attention,” said SRJC English student Izabella Merriweather. “It can be kind of hard to have conversations like this. It can be emotionally draining.”
Some students attended due to their concern over current politics.
Connor Fergenson, an SRJC English student, said he attended because of “[t]he rise of authoritarianism as well as the rise of reactionary politics.”
“Not only are you defending another working class person, another teacher, another student of activism within this country and within this world, you’re learning to defend yourself,” Alter said.
