The charges against several pro-Palestinian protesters who were arrested at the University of Texas were dropped by Travis County Attorney Delia Garza due to deficiencies in probable cause affidavits used in their arrests. The public defender in Travis County revealed that law enforcement officials had “copied and pasted” different probable cause affidavits in the arrests, leading to the dismissal of charges for over 50 protesters. The arrests were made earlier this week by Texas Department of Public Safety and UT Austin police during a pro-Palestinian protest on campus. Tensions have been high on college campuses since an attack by Hamas on southern Israel in October 2023, resulting in many deaths and casualties.
Pro-Palestinian protests have been occurring at various college campuses, including UT Austin, Columbia University, and Northwestern University. The Palestine Solidarity Committee, an organization advocating for Palestinian liberation and the right to return, planned to establish “the Popular University” at the UT Austin campus this week. Supporters were instructed to walk out of class at 11:40 a.m., meet at Gregory Plaza, and then march to occupy the lawn with blankets, food, face masks, and energy. The Texas Department of Public Safety responded to the protests at UT Austin at the request of the University and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, aiming to prevent unlawful assembly and support UT Police in maintaining peace by arresting those engaged in criminal activity, including criminal trespass. Over 20 arrests were initially made, with the number later increasing to 34 by the evening.
The decision by Travis County Attorney Delia Garza to drop charges against pro-Palestinian protesters came after deficiencies in probable cause affidavits were revealed by the public defender, Nouha Ezouhri. The Austin American-Statesman reported on the dismissal of charges for over 50 protesters, highlighting the issues with the affidavits used in their arrests. The arrests were made by Texas Department of Public Safety and UT Austin police during a pro-Palestinian protest on campus. These protests have been ongoing at various college campuses, reflecting the tensions that arose after the attack by Hamas on southern Israel in October 2023, resulting in numerous casualties.
The Palestine Solidarity Committee planned to establish “the Popular University” at the UT Austin campus, prompting supporters to walk out of class and march to occupy the lawn. The Texas Department of Public Safety responded to the protests at UT Austin at the request of the University and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, aiming to prevent unlawful assembly and arrest individuals engaging in criminal activity. The number of arrests made by law enforcement initially exceeded 20 and later rose to 34 by the evening. The decision to drop charges against the protesters by Travis County Attorney Delia Garza highlights the importance of ensuring proper procedures and probable cause in arrests to uphold the rights of individuals involved in protests.
In light of the tensions surrounding the conflict in Gaza and the Palestinian cause, it is essential for authorities to handle protests on college campuses with care and respect for the rights of demonstrators. The dropping of charges against the pro-Palestinian protesters at UT Austin underscores the need for accountability and proper procedures in law enforcement actions during such events. The Palestine Solidarity Committee’s efforts to advocate for Palestinian liberation and the right to return reflect a growing movement of support for the Palestinian cause among students and activists on college campuses. It is crucial for dialogue and understanding to prevail in addressing the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, especially in the context of protests and demonstrations seeking justice and solidarity for Palestinian rights.
