Four Northwestern University faculty members were arrested Thursday for allegedly obstructing law enforcement during a pro-Palestinian camp in April, but the charges were dropped Friday, according to ABC7 Chicago.
The four teachers were previously charged with a Class A misdemeanor that could be punishable by a $2,500 fine and up to a year in jail, the Daily Caller News Foundation reported earlier this week.
The university reached an agreement with protesters in April prior to the protests, limiting the campsite to students, faculty and staff while allowing other community members to participate in various activities in the area. The demonstrations took place on the Evanston campus in April. according to For ABC 7 Chicago.
ABC7 Chicago reported that the Cook County state's attorney's office cited a policy of not prosecuting peaceful protesters.
“It's a pretty traumatic experience to have your employer send police to arrest you at your own workplace,” said Alicia Zamantakis, an assistant professor at Northwestern University's Institute on Sexual Minority Health and Well-Being, who has faced similar charges before. Said Chicago Sun-Times.
People gathered on the Northwestern University campus to show support for the people of Gaza (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)
“Northwestern Police have issued Class A misdemeanor citations to four individuals for obstructing police officers during a protest in Deering Meadows earlier this year.” [University spokesman Jon] Yates told the Daily Caller News Foundation earlier this week.
“While the university permits peaceful demonstrations, it does not permit activities that disrupt university operations, violate the law, or involve intimidation or harassment of members of the local community,” Yates previously told DCNF. (Related: Alvin Bragg's office drops charges against nearly all Columbia protesters)
The DCNF reported that during the April camp, a professor attempted to file a police report against another instructor for shoving an arresting officer, and a student was assaulted by anti-Israel protesters.
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