Call to overthrow ‘bloodthirsty’ capitalist system ends in TX professor’s firing

A Texas professor has been fired, accused of “inciting violence” after video surfaced on social media of a speech he gave at a socialist conference.

Thomas Alter, a history professor at Texas State University, in San Marcos, was fired on Wednesday, Sept. 10 school officials said. His profile on the university website was taken down as of Sept. 11.

In the video, Alter is seen speaking on a Zoom call during a recent online Revolutionary Socialism Conference, wherein he calls for the creation of a “Revolutionary Socialist Party” and discusses why he believes previous attempts to establish a lasting, effective socialist movement in the U.S. have failed.

“Without organization, how can anyone expect to overthrow the most bloodthirsty, profit-driven, mad organization in the history of the world, that of the U.S. government?” he says.

In a statement, TSU University System Chancellor Brian McCall said the university “will not tolerate conduct by any employee intended to incite violence,” pointing to “video recordings made public this week in which a … professor advocated for the overthrow of our government” as the reason for terminating Alter’s employment.

University president Kelly Damphousse echoed that sentiment in an X post, saying “after reviewing statements made … at a recent conference, I determined that (the professor) engaged in serious professional misconduct.”

Neither McCall or Damphousse identify the university employee who was fired, but Alter identifies himself during the socialist Zoom meeting.

Alter’s firing comes just days after another professor was terminated from a different Texas university.

At Texas A&M, professor Melissa McCoul was fired after comments during class regarding transgender people, and then was confronted by a student, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. Video of the incident caught the attention of state lawmakers who called for McCoul to be fired.