An Arizona judge has denied a motion to lift the suspensions of 20 students arrested last week during anti-Israel protests.
On Friday, a federal district court in Arizona denied a petition by Arizona State University students to have their suspensions lifted. Local outlet ABC 15.
The defendants filed a lawsuit against the Arizona Board of Regents on Tuesday, claiming that their suspension from ASU caused “irreparable harm” by not being able to register for classes.
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Protesters and law enforcement officers confront each other on the Alumni Lawn on the Arizona State University Tempe campus. (Ray Covarrubias Jr./USA TODAY NETWORK)
The students charged with trespassing also argued that the suspension violated their First Amendment rights.
Approximately 72 people were arrested and detained on April 26 while protests continued on Arizona State University’s campus.
Officers searched the Old Main lawn area throughout the night, and those arrested included both students and faculty.
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Pro-Palestinian demonstrators calling for an end to the fighting in Gaza have gathered at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus, with some planning to camp overnight on April 26, 2024. (Ray Covarrubias Jr./Republic/USA TODAY NETWORK)
Judge John Tuci ruled that the students had not presented sufficient evidence that their First Amendment rights had been violated.
He also ruled that there was insufficient evidence that the university’s suspension of students caused “irreparable harm.” The trespass charge at the center of the case has not yet been brought to court.
Students and faculty have called on the university to drop charges against the protesters, who have continued to demonstrate since their arrests.
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Arizona State University alumnus Tateer Alimam speaks to students gathered on the Alumni Lawn on the ASU Tempe campus for a press conference regarding protests on campus. (Megan Mendoza/Republic/USA TODAY NETWORK)
The University of Arizona, another higher education institution in the state, is embroiled in its own struggle to quell protesters occupying its campus.
In a May 1 statement, University President Robert C. Robbins issued a statement warning university officials, campus police, Tucson Police, and the Pima County Sheriff’s Office that “we will continue to implement the Campus Use Policy without further warning.” “The law shall be immediately enforced,” he said.
State troopers were seen on campus with pepperball guns and gas masks. Demonstrators were initially given a deadline of 10:30 p.m. to leave or face arrest, but arrests did not begin until much later.
