The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office says it has filed trespassing charges against 68 pro-Palestinian demonstrators arrested months ago on Arizona State University’s Tempe campus.
A statement from the top prosecutor says university policy bans encampments on a lawn near Old Main where the demonstrators defied police orders to leave.
In May, a judge threw out more than 70 trespassing cases against people who were arrested at the protest the month before.
Attorneys, such as Ray Ybarra Maldonado, argued in court to have them dismissed permanently, but the judge said no.
Now, most of the prosecutions have been revived.
“And to continue with these charges is an absolute waste of government resources. And a slap in the face to everybody who cares about human rights,” said Ybarra Maldonado.
The County Attorney’s Office said at first, ASU police sent in the arrests as citations, which required quick decisions on whether to charge.
Then, ASU police submitted the cases again in long-form to give prosecutors enough time to review a significant amount of evidence.
Ybarra Maldonado said those arrested were exercising their First Amendment rights.
“This was not a camping activity. Folks weren’t going out there to have a barbeque and drink some beers. This was a protest," Ybarra Maldonado said.
