OHIO — The Ohio Student Association released a response to President Donald Trump's threat to cut federal funding from schools, universities or colleges that allow "illegal protests" to occur. 

“Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came," said Trump in a post on Truth Social. He said that students face punishments such as being expelled or even arrested.

What You Need To Know

  • President Donald Trump threatened to remove federal funding from schools that allow "illegal protests"

  • Students have First Amendment rights for free speech on campus

  • Universities and colleges can limit how, when and where students protest

  • Protests have popped up for the last few weeks against the Turmp administration's actions

OSA used the threat to push their message that they are not backing down on their stance. Students across the state have been protesting the closures of diversity, equity and inclusion offices at public universities.

"Over 900 faculty, staff, and students rallied in response to these closures at the Ohio State University, with hundreds of others protesting at the University of Akron and the University of Cincinnati," OSA said in a news release. "We have organized to oppose Ohio Senate Bill 1, which is a priority bill that aims to destroy higher education by limiting open dialogue on controversial topics and pressure university administrators to squander academic freedom."

According to the First Amendment, students have a right to free speech on campus; however, schools can limit where, when and how they do so. Last year, students across the country protested the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, calling for a ceasefire. 

During one of the pro-Palestinian protests, at least 36 individuals were arrested. Of these, 16 were students and 20 were not affiliated with the university. The arrests began after 10 p.m. when protesters were told to disperse. Police said tents had been set up by demonstraters, which OSU had said was not allowed.

“Well established university rules prohibit camping and overnight events. Demonstrators exercised their First Amendment rights for several hours and were then instructed to disperse," Ohio State said in a statement on the arrests. "Individuals who refused to leave after multiple warnings were arrested and charged with criminal trespass.”

OSA said in its statement that it plans to continue to organize students across the state.

"Students across the country and the state are organizing because we believe in a better future than what our elected officials and campus leaders are offering," OSA said. "We are calling out injustice and demanding accountability. Our voices create real change, and we won’t be silenced. This is our right. No authoritarian threat will take it away from us."

Multiple protests, boycotts and marches have occurred over the past several weeks against actions the Trump administration has taken, such as a push to remove DEI from federally funded schools and workplaces. 

"If the administration wasn’t afraid of the power we hold, they wouldn’t be trying so hard to shut us down. What we are doing is working," OSA said. "Their fear is not our concern. Our focus remains on building power for students. We are not backing down. We are not going anywhere and we won’t be intimidated." 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.