Protest and Unlawful Disruption: The Case of UTD Students
Nearly one year after UTD students set up an encampment on campus to protest the war in Gaza, 14 were indicted on misdemeanor charges.
Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said in a Thursday news release that they were indicted on charges of obstructing a passageway, which is a Class B misdemeanor.
On May 1, protestors built an encampment overnight at the University of Texas at Dallas using tents and a barrier made from tires, pallets and signs. State troopers and other law enforcement arrived to dismantle the area, and 21 people were arrested.
“Free speech is protected. Blocking access and refusing lawful commands is not,” Willis said in the release. “These charges reflect that a clear line exists between protest and unlawful disruption.”
The Education Lab and Response to the Indictment
Lawyers representing the 21 arrested condemned the Collin County decision.
“This is a blatant attack on free speech and complete denial of the right to hold peaceful protests,” they said in a statement Thursday. The obstruction statue “cannot be used as a blanket authority for police to shut down any protest, any time, and anywhere simply by declaring it an obstruction.”
The lawyers, from the D-FW chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, said those arrested originally faced charges of criminal trespassing and a case couldn’t be made for those charges.
“The use of a grand jury and the filing of a new charge nearly a year after the arrest — both highly unusual in a misdemeanor case — show clearly that Willis is not handling this as an ordinary misdemeanor case but is singling out these arrestees,” they said.
The new charges are a “desperate attempt” to find a legal way to punish protesters, they added.
“The political games being played are clear to us, and we condemn them in the strongest sense,” they said.
Arrests and Bail Conditions
Most arrested last year were students and professors, while others were unaffiliated with the university. They were banned from campus, except for class or work-related activities, as part of their bail conditions.
The arrests came after the university ordered the protestors to take down the encampment, which they refused. State troopers in riot gear and other law enforcement officers later came in and forcefully took down the encampment.
A spokesperson from UTD said, “This decision is from the Collin County District Attorney’s Office. Because this is a pending legal matter, the university cannot comment further.”
National Context and Similar Protests
The UTD protest was one of dozens in Texas and hundreds across the country. Students demanded universities to divest from companies that manufacture weapons and machinery used in the war in Gaza.
In Austin, more than 100 demonstrators were arrested over two days of protesting at UT Austin. They were also charged with criminal trespassing, but all charges were dismissed soon after by Travis County officials.
President Donald Trump’s administration has detained and arrested students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests last spring, including the high-profile cases of Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, who is a permanent U.S. resident, and Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, who had her visa revoked.
The administration has revoked more than 1,200 student visas nationwide in recent weeks, according to media reports. Texas college officials confirmed more than 300 students had their status terminated.
It was not immediately clear if any individuals indicted by Collin County officials were international students. The school has a significant international student population, with more than 5,500 enrolled from more than 110 countries.
Related Incidents and Consequences
Related: 21 arrested, student encampment dismantled at UT Dallas
Related: More than 300 visas revoked from Texas international students by Trump administration
Conclusion
The indictment of 14 UTD students on misdemeanor charges for obstructing a passageway has sparked controversy and debate about the limits of free speech and protest. While the district attorney’s office argues that the charges reflect a clear line between protest and unlawful disruption, lawyers for the arrested students see it as a blatant attack on free speech and a desperate attempt to punish protesters. The incident highlights the complexities of balancing the right to protest with the need to maintain public order and safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What were the UTD students protesting?
A: The UTD students were protesting the war in Gaza and demanding that universities divest from companies that manufacture weapons and machinery used in the war.
Q: How many students were arrested and indicted?
A: 21 students were arrested, and 14 were later indicted on misdemeanor charges for obstructing a passageway.
Q: What were the original charges faced by the arrested students?
A: The original charges were criminal trespassing, but the case couldn’t be made for those charges.
Q: How has the Trump administration responded to pro-Palestinian protests?
A: The Trump administration has detained and arrested students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests, and has revoked more than 1,200 student visas nationwide in recent weeks.
