Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis has announced the indictment of 14 protesters following arrests at a University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) encampment. The indicted individuals face charges of Obstruction of a Passageway after they participated in a demonstration organized by Students for Justice in Palestine on May 1, 2024. As outlined in a statement from the District Attorney's office, the protest took a decisive turn when the group constructed an unauthorized encampment, resulting in a conflict between protesters' free speech rights and the unlawful disruption.
During the protest, participants used tents, tarps, and other materials to effectively blockade Chess Plaza, a key pedestrian walkway on campus. University officials requested that the protesters dismantle the makeshift barriers. Many complied, but a contingent of 14 chose instead to sit down, lock arms, and directly challenge the orders to vacate the premises. According to official reports, 21 individuals were initially arrested for Criminal Trespass, a misdemeanor in Texas.
Further scrutiny of the events came from a Collin County grand jury, which reviewed the presented evidence and returned indictments for 14 of the protesters. In contrast, seven cases were no-billed, which means those individuals will not face prosecution for their involvement in the incident. As defined by Texas law, Obstruction of a Passageway is a Class B misdemeanor, carrying potential penalties of up to 180 days in jail, a fine not exceeding $2,000, or community supervision.
