A group of primarily outside agitators will not face charges following their recent arrests at UT-Austin. Those arrested claimed to oppose alleged Israeli “genocide.”
According to The Daily Texan, Travis County Attorney Delia Garza announced that the 79 arrestees will not face criminal prosecution. The individuals involved had been charged with criminal trespassing.
The arrests in question had originally occurred on April 29.
As Texas Scorecard reported at the time, demonstrators were observed cursing out police officers, calling them Nazis, spitting on them, and throwing water bottles. Despite the difficult circumstances, officers were universally calm and professional. While Texas Scorecard did observe two instances of officers using pepper spray, it was obviously done in self-defense.
The arrests occurred after so-called “protestors” had tried to set up a Columbia University-style tent encampment on the University’s Main Mall. This violates House Bill 1925, a 2021 measure intended to curtail homeless camping.
The University subsequently released a statement disagreeing with Garza’s actions and said it was “deeply disappointed.”
#NEW: In a statement, the University of Texas at Austin says it’s “deeply disappointed” by the 79 cases being rejected by the County Attorney.
“Free speech is welcome on our campus. Violating laws or rules is not.” https://t.co/MzfH8gPMek pic.twitter.com/Qmi486K2n1
— Michael Adkison (@madkisonews) June 26, 2024
