Campus Protests Led to More Than 3,100 Arrests, but Many Charges Have Been Dropped
Via : Wikipedia
Protests and encampments in support of Palestine swept through educational institutions across the nation, affecting campuses of all sizes.
As pro-Palestinian demonstrations reverberated across college campuses this spring, university administrators grappled with how to respond. Some negotiated with protesters, while others called in the police. The result? Over 3,100 arrests or detentions on campuses nationwide.
| University | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Columbia University | 400+ |
| Harvard University | 250+ |
| Monash University | 180+ |
| University of Amsterdam | 150+ |
| McGill University | 130+ |
| University of Sydney | 120+ |
| University of Oregon | 100+ |
Most of those arrested faced charges of trespassing or disturbing the peace. Some even faced more serious charges, including resisting arrest. However, in the months since, many of these charges have been dropped. Yet, some students still grapple with additional consequences, such as being barred from their campuses or having their diplomas withheld.
Delia Garza, the prosecutor in Travis County, Texas, dropped criminal trespassing charges against over 100 people arrested at the University of Texas at Austin. She emphasized that such charges were rarely a priority for prosecutors, given their minor and nonviolent nature. Additionally, she believed that jurors would recognize that students protesting on their own campus were exercising their First Amendment rights.
While some universities expressed disappointment at the decision to drop charges, others understood the goal was not to punish but to clear the streets.
