This Academic Freedom Alliance statement released yesterday, the 8th of October, 2023, emphasizes the importance of American universities maintaining their core scholarly missions in the face of heightened political tensions. The statement advocates for upholding principles of free inquiry and open debate, emphasizing the need for universities to resist the pressure to police speech and beliefs on campus. It asserts that professors should be free to discuss controversial ideas and present materials relevant to their subjects without subjecting students to indoctrination or political litmus tests. Additionally, the statement underscores the importance of adhering to content-neutral regulations for public speech on campus, while also ensuring that campus protests do not disrupt academic activities. The statement concludes by asserting the need for universities to rededicate themselves to their scholarly missions and act in good faith to preserve free inquiry and open debate.