Seventy-nine people were arrested in connection to the pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas on Monday, according to the Travis County sheriff’s office.
Seventy-eight of those arrested were charged with criminal trespass, and one person received an additional charge of obstructing a highway or passageway, said Kristen Dark, sheriff’s office public information officer. One person was also charged with interfering with public duties, Dark said.
Unlike last week, the University of Texas Police Department was not the lone arresting agency. Dark said the Austin Police Department is listed as the arresting agency for four protesters.
The 57 people arrested at last Wednesday’s protest all faced criminal trespassing charges, though all of those charges were dropped.
‘Free Palestine’: AISD high school students stage walk out to protest Israel-Hamas war
Forty-six of 77 people arrested in Monday’s protest were not students, based on preliminary numbers, UT spokesperson Mike Rosen said Tuesday.
It was not clear whether the numbers included faculty or staff members.
—Lily Kepner
More than 50 people gathered at Travis County Jail Tuesday morning, waiting for the protesters to be released.
With coffee, water bottles, pickles, donuts and each other, supporters gathered on tarps, yoga mats and benches. They stretched and chatted, waiting for information about those who have been arrested.
William Sorenson, a UT second-year student, was arrested last Wednesday at the protests. On Tuesday morning, he was waiting for his friend to be released. He had been since 10:30 pm Monday.
“We plan to stay here until she’s out,” Sorenson said.
Sorenson walked to the protest after class on Monday. He stood in the shade as an observer but saw his friend.
“It was surreal to see it all happen again,” he said.
Sorenson said he is “dismayed” by the use of force on campus and inspired by the protesters, who he said had peaceful intentions.
“It was chaotic — it may as well have been a riot — but it was not instigated by the protesters, and there is a clear trend of that,” he said about the police involvement.
At 10:45 am, protesters had drums and were chanting, “Free Palestine,” outside the jail.
—Lily Kepner
Attorneys were told Monday night that probable cause affidavits for those arrested wouldn’t be sent in until Tuesday. This differs from how UT police handled the process last week, when lawyers said the department essentially “copied and pasted” each affidavit. That resulted in all of the charges being declined by the Travis County attorney’s office, which handles misdemeanor cases and is led by Delia Garza.
Those affidavits are required for someone to be released from jail so a magistrate judge can determine how to proceed with setting bond or if charges will be prosecuted.
As of 8:15 am, Dark said none of those arrested had yet seen a magistrate judge. George Lobb, an attorney with the Austin Lawyers Guild, said the first probable cause affidavits were sent in at about 8:45 am
A probable cause affidavit shared with the American-Statesman concerning Monday’s protest shows that officers put more detail into the affidavit. Details about the officers giving dispersal orders and how the protesters failed to comply are explained in the affidavit, in contrast to the affidavits last week, most of which only said the arrested person was “given notice to disperse from property and failed to do so. “
Garza told the Statesman last week that there was “insufficient probable cause” to pursue charges against the protesters who were arrested Wednesday. In reference to the charges filed against those arrested Monday, Garza said her office will “provide an update … when we know more.”
— Skye Seipp
Tags: protesters arrested students initial numbers
-
