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Pro-Palestinian protesters at ASU plead not guilty to trespassing

Harry November 5, 2024

In April, dozens of protesters from the pro-Palestinian camp on the Arizona State University campus pleaded not guilty. trespassing charges On Monday.

A protest in the spring drew a crowd of hundreds to ASU’s Alumni Garden. show was part of a growing movement at colleges across the country; students were calling on universities to condemn the violence in Gaza and cut ties with Israel.

Protesters are accused of “knowingly entering or unlawfully remaining on any real property following a reasonable request to leave by a law enforcement officer, the owner of the property, or any person having lawful control over such property.” They were charged last month with class 3 misdemeanors, punishable by up to 30 days in jail, a $500 fine and up to a year of probation.

While ASU students were allowed to return to campus, Judge Tyler Kissel stipulated that students would not be allowed onto the lawn where the protest took place. Defendants who are not ASU students are not allowed to return to campus while the trial is in progress.

As of Monday, nearly all the defendants had pleaded not guilty. One person did not attend the hearing and the other person’s plea status is unknown, according to Justice Court spokesman Scott Davis. The next court dates will be scheduled in the coming weeks.

Many ASU students were placed on temporary suspension for months due to their arrests in April. Most of them have now been able to return to class. An ASU spokesperson had previously confirmed that ASU students would not face new disciplinary action as a result of the new charges.

The defendants came to the courtroom wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian scarf. Since the demonstration in April, many pro-Palestinian protests have been allowed to continue on ASU’s campus and at universities in Arizona. University officials said the April camp was not allowed to be held in that area of campus and was not allowed to continue into the night hours.

The 68 trespassing charges pending against protesters are among dozens of charges filed by prosecutors across the country. Following the decision to proceed with the cases, Maricopa County District Attorney Rachel Mitchell said university officials gave protesters several chances to clear the area before making arrests.

“Protesters, many of whom were not students, were repeatedly given the opportunity to peacefully destroy the camps and leave the area,” Mitchell said in a statement. he said. “ASU, along with local law enforcement, had a responsibility to keep the area safe for students and faculty. My office now plays an equally important role in holding these people accountable for their actions.”

Helen Rummel covers higher education in the Arizona Republic. Reach him at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly on Twitter: @helenrummel.