Texas history professor fired after allegedly calling for political violence at socialist conference

A professor at Texas State University was axed on Wednesday after a video of him allegedly advocating for political violence during a socialism conference went viral.

Tom Alter, a now-former associate history professor at TSU and member of Socialist Horizon, spoke at the online Revolutionary Socialism Conference 2025 on Sept. 7, according to screen recordings shared on X.

During his brief talk, Alter launched into a tirade about the “US Capitalist crisis” that he claimed is exacerbating issues like education, mental health and even basic infrastructure.

“What makes the current crisis an extra problem for capitalists is the willingness of people to fight back,” Alter said.

He presented a rough pitch for how socialists could organize a stronger base within the US and criticized various parties, including the Chinese Communist Party, Democrats and “insurrectional anarchists,” for their half-baked methods of organizing.

Alter wished-washed on his approach and praised other anarchists who had been detained or even convicted for participating in protests

“While their actions are laudable, it should be asked, to what purpose do they serve? Without organization, how can anyone expect to overthrow the most bloodthirsty, profit-driven, mad organization in the history of the world — that of the United States?” Alter said in the full clip posted on YouTube.

The Post reached out to Alter for comment and clarity on his message.

Just four days later, Texas State University President Kelly Damphousse announced that Alter was fired after the administration was made aware of his comments. She said that his assertions counted as “serious professional and personal misconduct,” but didn’t point to any specific university policy he violated.

“Conduct that advocates for inciting violence is directly contrary to the values of Texas State University. I cannot and will not tolerate such behavior,” Damphousse said in a statement on X.

Brian McCall, the chancellor of the greater TSU system, celebrated Alter’s removal and even doubled down, saying that no conduct “intended to incite violence” would be tolerated from any employee.

“Video recordings made public this week in which a Texas State University professor advocated for the overthrow of our government are inconsistent with our shared values and demonstrate egregious personal and professional misconduct,” McCall said in the statement.

Alter is the second professor to be laid off in Texas this week.

Melissa McCoul, an English professor at Texas A&M, was instructing a children’s literature course when a female student noted that she wasn’t sure the presentation concerning gender and sexuality was “legal to be teaching” under President Trump’s numerous DEI orders, according to a video shared on X.

McCoul asserted that the student was “under a misconception” that the instruction at hand was illegal.

The professor added that the student’s challenge against the course material, which had been taken up by the president of the university, would likely not “be effective in stopping me from teaching things that are biologically true,” including that there are more than two genders.

The student was asked to leave the classroom shortly after. McCoul was fired on Tuesday, alongside the Texas A&M College of Arts and Sciences dean and the head of the English Department.