LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced on Thursday that her office has filed criminal charges against 11 individuals, primarily University of Michigan (UM) students and alumni, following a review of protest incidents on the UM campus. The charges stem from activities during an encampment on the Diag, a central park space on campus, and involve allegations of trespassing, resisting police orders and disturbing the peace.
Multi-agency review ensures consistency in law enforcement.
The Attorney General’s office conducted a comprehensive investigation into the protests, reviewing evidence from over 35 participants, including body camera footage, police reports, and university documents. The review was initiated to maintain consistent law enforcement across incidents occurring on and off campus, focusing on cases referred from Washtenaw County.
Charges were filed in the 15th District Court in Washtenaw County. None of the defendants have been arraigned yet, and all are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The investigation cleared individuals involved in separate protests at the Honors Convocation and the University of Michigan Museum of Art but continues to scrutinize incidents at UM Regents’ homes.
Charges for violations at the Diag encampment.
The charges announced focus on events that unfolded at the Diag encampment, where demonstrators erected approximately 60 tents over several weeks. Despite multiple discussions with university officials regarding safety violations and fire hazards, protestors refused to comply with recommendations to reduce risks.
On May 21st, police issued a dispersal order to clear the encampment, leading to confrontations when demonstrators obstructed officers. Two individuals were charged with trespassing, and seven others face additional felony charges for resisting or obstructing police. The two additional people, one an alumnus and one with no known U-M affiliation, were charged with trespassing in separate incidents during a counter protest staged on the Diag on April 25th while the encampment was in place. One of those charges included Ethnic Intimidation.
Nessel: free speech does not excuse illegal actions.
Attorney General Nessel emphasized the importance of balancing free speech with public safety. “The right to free speech and assembly is fundamental, and my office fully supports every citizen’s right to free speech under the First Amendment,” Nessel said in a statement. “However, violent and criminal behavior, or acts that trample on another’s rights, cannot be tolerated. I hope today’s charges are a reminder to everyone who chooses to assemble, regardless of the cause, that the First Amendment does not provide a cover for illegal activity.”
She continued to say, “A college campus should be a place where the exploration and sharing of ideas and opinions is able to flourish, but conviction in your ideals is not an excuse for violations of the law.” She added, “A campus should not be lawless; what is a crime anywhere else in the city remains a crime on university property. Our laws everywhere are designed to make safe communities and encourage respectful coexistence, no matter our personal disagreements or conflicting beliefs. Just as we strive for safe communities and neighborhoods, we owe it to students and parents alike to protect and encourage a safe campus environment.”
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