Charges against University of Tennessee students and local residents have been dropped after they completed 100 hours of community service related to their participation in a pro-Palestinian protest last year, as confirmed by the Knox County Attorney’s Office on Friday.

In June 2024, eleven individuals were charged with Class C misdemeanor criminal trespassing following a rally on campus. This was in accordance with a Tennessee law from 2022 that prohibits fraudulent camping on public properties.

During the demonstration, protesters urged the university to sever ties with Israeli arms companies, halt study abroad programs in Israel, disclose financial investments, and divest from companies associated with Israel.

Attorney Dillon Zinzer-Nails, representing one protester, remarked that the defense’s stance highlighted the overwhelming response from the prosecutor’s side.

“Future protesters will certainly recall the events from that day. The entire situation has had a dampening effect on free speech and peaceful protest rights in Tennessee,” Zinzer-Nails expressed. He conveyed hope that in the future, individuals could exercise their First Amendment rights on campus without fear. It seems the arrests were, ideally, a reaction to the university’s disagreement with the message being expressed.

Prominent Knoxville business owner Yassin Terrou was among those arrested and completed the community service hours, labeling the incident as an abuse of authority.

“After extensive legal proceedings, the state was compelled to dismiss the case due to a lack of evidence,” Terrou stated. “This shouldn’t have occurred, showing the system was manipulated for intimidation and control.”

Terrou also noted the lifting of the university’s trespassing ban, encouraging protesters to feel welcome on campus once again.

“UTK should be recognized as a place where peaceful voices can be heard, not suppressed,” he added.

Zinzer-Nails mentioned that the next step involves discussions with university officials about the future of the trespass order.

So far, university representatives have not commented on the matter.

Additionally, two protesters are pursuing civil lawsuits against the university and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, claiming a violation of their First Amendment rights.