68 Protesters Charged over Arizona Anti-Israel Encampment at Arizona State University After Judge Previously Dropped Case

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) on Wednesday announced new charges against 68 individuals who allegedly participated in the April anti-Israel encampment at Arizona State University (ASU) after the case was previously dropped due to a lack of specific charges.

The same day, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced new misdemeanor trespassing charges for 68 people accused of defying police orders to leave an anti-Israel encampment at ASU’s Tempe campus in April.

According to an MCAO press release, the 68 accused of trespassing remained present on ASU’s campus after ASU police officers repeatedly “approached the group and requested that the demonstrators remove their tents and leave the area in accordance with university policy.”

While many raised their constitutional rights to freedom of assembly in response to objections to their encampment, Mitchell said in a statement that their actions were criminal.

“The right to free speech does not extend to violating the law,” Mitchell said. “The university’s policy is clear – encampments are not permitted in this particular area on campus. The protestors – many of whom were not students – were given the chance, over and over again, to peacefully take down the encampments and leave the area. ASU, along with local law enforcement, had a responsibility to keep the area safe for students and faculty.”

She added, “My office is now playing the equally important role of holding these people accountable for their actions.”

The charges for the April encampment were announced in October after 71 protesters allegedly involved in the encampment had their charges dismissed in MayABC 15 Arizona reported that the judge acted after ASU police failed to provide specific charges for the cases to move forward.

Defendants unsuccessfully urged the court to dismiss the case with prejudice, which would have prevented new charges from being introduced.

On April 29, 72 protesters were arrested, and ASU confirmed that 15 of those arrested were current students at the university.

The group previously shared a list of demands with reports, which reportedly included demands for ASU to submit “an official statement condemning the Zionist genocide of Palestinians,” as well as for the university to join the controversial Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement many Israelis consider antisemitic.

Protesters also demanded the abolition of police on ASU campuses and amnesty for students and faculty who participated in building or occupying the anti-Israel encampment.

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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Students for Justice in Palestine – Arizona State University Members” by Students for Justice in Palestine – Arizona State University.