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21 UTD protesters were released from the Collin County Jail
“We make sacrifices for the Palestinian cause regardless,” said a UTD student when asked if his overnight detention in jail was worth the trouble.
COLLIN COUNTY, Texas – UT Dallas protesters, including students and staff members, were released from the Collin County Jail Thursday after being held overnight.
And as the last of the 21 accused of criminal wrongdoing were acquitted, they vowed that Campus protests will continue anyway.
In a statement to WFAA, UTD said in part “UT Dallas has learned that of the 21 people arrested for criminal trespass on our campus Wednesday, nine were not currently affiliated with the University.”
Crowds gathered throughout the day in the sheltered breezeway between the jail and the sheriff's office. They promised to continue their defense with the voice of the arrested, with the snow of bulls and drums. They used chalk to write pro-Palestinian, anti-police and anti-UTD messages on the sidewalks and walls leading to the prison.
Ali Asgar Alibhai, an assistant professor at UTD, was among the first to be released at noon on Thursday. He raised a peace sign in the air and then joined the crowd in defiant chants as he and other protesters were released.
Among the latest to be released was computer science student Mousa Najjar, a senior at UTD active in the Students for Justice in Palestine organization on campus.
“We make sacrifices for the Palestinian cause regardless,” he said when asked if his overnight stay in jail was worth the trouble. He said he had never been arrested before. “People in Gaza are sacrificing their lives for this to liberate Palestine. This is the least we can do for our people.”
UTD's statement on Friday went on to say:
“On Wednesday, demonstrators brought barricades including tires and wooden pallets, and installed tents and other structures in the Chess Plaza area. As the day went on, more people joined the protest and the encampment expanded to crosswalks. The group was asked to remove barriers and It was only after they refused to do so – and being fully aware of the consequences of that refusal – that UT Dallas and local and state law enforcement entered this area everyone on our campus provided they follow the policies of campus.”
UTD said it continues to support and welcome the exercise of free speech on campus: but camping and blocking walkways are not.
Meanwhile, as the last protesters were released from jail, organizers of the campus protests vowed to continue from Friday as they seek university removal of any company that can contribute weaponry to the Israeli army.
