‘Only Nazis ban books’: on the frontlines with students fighting Trump over higher education

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis targeted the state's New College in 2023 as part of his so-called war on woke, transforming the liberal arts institution that had taken half a century to build into a sanctuary of independent thought, as documented in the film 'First They Came for My College' which follows students fighting to preserve academic freedom. The documentary provides an intimate look at how the beloved liberal arts school became the latest battleground in America's cultural wars, with DeSantis appointing a new board of trustees that systematically dismantled the college's progressive curriculum and governance structure. Students and faculty members emerged as unlikely activists, organizing protests, sit-ins, and public campaigns to defend the institution's founding principles of intellectual freedom and experimental education. The film captures the emotional and political turmoil as the school's identity hung in the balance, with students chanting 'Only Nazis ban books' during demonstrations against the new conservative leadership appointed by the governor.