Ten Protesters Face Misdemeanor Charges in Connection with Pro-Palestinian Protest at UCI

Ten protesters will be facing misdemeanor charges in relation to a pro-Palestinian protest that took place at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) on May 15. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday that the charges include failure to disperse at the scene of a riot, with two individuals also facing charges of resisting arrest.

Among the defendants are an associate professor, a lecturer, and four UCI students, as confirmed by prosecutors. The affiliations of the remaining four defendants with UCI are currently unclear. All ten individuals have been ordered to appear in court on October 16.

Prosecutors are still reviewing potential evidence related to several dozen others who were arrested during the May 15 protest. UCI officials emphasized the university’s support for free speech and peaceful protest but also highlighted that all members of the UCI community must adhere to applicable laws, policies, and codes of conduct during protest activities.

Those charged with the single failure to disperse charge may be eligible for a court diversion program instead of imprisonment, according to prosecutors. However, the potential impact of the charges on the academic careers of the defendants who are current UCI faculty or students remains uncertain.

Two UCI faculty members, Tiffany Willoughby-Herard and Jonathan Brook Haley, were named among the defendants. Attempts to reach them for comment were unsuccessful, and it is unclear if they or any of the other defendants have obtained legal representation.

The May 15 protest at UCI occurred during a period of nationwide demonstrations related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Tensions escalated at UCI when a small group of protesters barricaded themselves inside the Physical Sciences Lecture Hall, leading to the intervention of law enforcement officers from multiple agencies. A total of 47 individuals, including 27 students, were taken into custody during the clearance of the protests. The students were subsequently placed on interim suspension.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer emphasized the constitutional right to peaceful assembly but stated that criminal activity beyond peaceful assembly would not be tolerated. The Special Prosecutions Unit of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office has spent months reviewing evidence to determine potential crimes committed by the protesters following the lawful dispersal order issued by UCI police.

The encampment set up by the protesters lasted for over two weeks before the confrontation with law enforcement. The demonstrators demanded divestment from companies and institutions with ties to Israel, an end to the Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip, and reinvestment of funds towards students and workers, among other demands.

The delay between the arrests and decisions regarding criminal charges has left impacted students in a state of uncertainty, particularly with the fall term approaching. Some students have expressed frustration, stating that the process itself feels like a punishment.

In a separate lawsuit, five undergraduate students who were indefinitely suspended by UC Irvine for their involvement in pro-Palestinian protest activities have sued the UC Regents and UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman. The students allege that their suspensions violate the university’s own rules and the minimum standards of due process applicable to public institutions.