The founder of Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, is at the center of a growing controversy over free speech on college campuses. Waters is scheduled to speak on a panel titled 'Not Backing Down: Israel, Free Speech and the Battle for Palestinian Rights' at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on May 4 about the backlash against pro-Palestinian voices. Other speakers include Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour, who has faced death threats for her outspokenness, Temple University professor Marc Lamont Hill, who was recently fired from CNN for speaking up for Palestinian rights, and sportswriter Dave Zirin. The event has sparked protests on campus. A group of UMass students filed a lawsuit claiming they will “suffer irreparable harm” if the event takes place. The Massachusetts Republican Party and the Massachusetts Jewish Republican Committee have condemned the event, claiming it is anti-Semitic. Another 80 groups have urged UMass to pull its support for the panel. On Thursday, the university announced the event will go ahead despite the protests, saying it is committed to the principles of free speech and academic freedom.