The ACLU of Texas and the National Coalition Against Censorship have deployed a mobile billboard to the University of North Texas (UNT) campus to protest the administration's removal of an art exhibition by Victor Quiñonez, known as Marka27. The show, titled “Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá,” was abruptly taken down in February after being open for only a week, with administrators later citing concerns that the artist's critiques of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could cause campus disruptions.
This incident highlights growing tensions between academic freedom and political pressure in Texas, as leaked transcripts suggest UNT officials feared financial retaliation from state lawmakers. By targeting a Hispanic-Serving Institution during a period of heightened sensitivity around immigration and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies, the censorship row has sparked significant backlash from students and faculty who view the removal as a betrayal of the university's diverse community and its commitment to artistic expression.