Pro-Palestinian protesters gather at Collin County Jail as UT Dallas detainees are released

McKINNEY, Texas – Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Collin County Jail all day Thursday as they waited Pro-Palestinian protesters are arrested at UT Dallas to be released.

21 students and faculty members are charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass for setting up tents and barricades on campus.

The suspects were released one by one throughout the day to cheers from their supporters. Many wanted to protect themselves from public opinion.

Supporters raised flags and cheered for law enforcement officers to let the detainees go. Some even slept outside the prison overnight.

One protester who spoke to FOX 4 said their message will not change and they will continue to fight.

“Regroup and plan your next steps. Ultimately, we will not stop until we see justice for the people of Palestine and we will not stop until the US stops prioritizing Israelis over its own cities,” said Mohammed Ayachi.

The first defendant released today was UT Dallas art history professor Ali Asgar Alibhai.

Reunions throughout the day were filled with emotional hugs.

UTD history professor Ben Wright was one of the last to be released in the afternoon.

UTD senior Mousa Najjar told FOX 4 the court's outcome was different for each person. He was released on personal recognizance, meaning he did not have to post bond.

“Students demanded the removal of the university and President Benson responded by calling in the state troopers for his students,” Najjar said. “We have made sacrifices for the Palestinian cause, some are sacrificing their lives. This is the least we can do for our people in Gaza, Palestine abroad.”

While DPS troopers were on the UTD campus Wednesday, UT Dallas officers were the ones making the arrests at Chess Plaza.

The location is in Dallas County, so some have questioned why the protesters were sent to the Collin County Jail.

On Thursday, a spokeswoman for the Collin County Sheriff's Office told us the defendants were booked into Collin County because the arrests were made within 500 feet of the Collin County line.

Another protest was planned for Thursday at the University of Texas at Dallas. It was postponed.

UT Dallas has not yet said whether the faculty members or students who were arrested will face any discipline from the university for the alleged criminal wrongdoing.

Who are the UT Dallas protesters?

According to the UTD Police Directorate, 19 people are accused of a criminal offense, which is a misdemeanor offense.

Most are of college age and have local addresses, but it is not clear if they are university students.

The youngest was 18 years old, while the oldest was 44.

The Mercury, UTD's student newspaper, reported that three staff members were among those arrested by police.

Ali Asgar Alibhai, an assistant professor of art history, and Rosemary Admiral, an assistant professor, are charged with criminal trespass, according to Collin County Jail records.

Associate history professor Ben Wright was jailed but has not been charged.

UT Dallas campus destroyed, protesters arrested

There were about 20 people arrested on the UT Dallas campus Wednesday afternoon after setting up camp.

The university had warned the group that they were violating campus policy and could be charged with criminal trespass if they did not remove it.

When no one moved, UTD called Richardson police, the Collin County Sheriff's Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety for assistance.

The officers arrived in armored vehicles with combat equipment. They listened to the protesters' pleas, but eventually began dismantling the tents and used bolt cutters to remove what the protesters had chained to trees.

Some students said Wednesday's demonstration was a continuation of their struggle. While other Jewish students on campus said they felt threatened.

“This is a student collective to continue the pressure on the administration that we put on last week to ask for their support in our investment campaign,” said Noor Saleh, a UTD graduate student.

“I'm so glad UT Dallas brought in law enforcement when they did as we've seen how the trajectory has gone on other campuses when they've let it go,” said Nathaniel Butterfield, another graduate student.

The protesters moved towards the student union and by 10pm the campus was quiet.

But some said they spent the night in the rain waiting for their fellow protesters to be released from prison.

President Biden, Donald Trump at college protests

The Associated Press says more than 2,000 people have been arrested in campus protests across the country.

The ugliest clash between protesters and police was before dawn at UCLA on Thursday. More than 200 people were arrested there.

President Biden addressed the unrest from the White House on Thursday.

Dissent is essential to democracy, but dissent should never lead to disorder or denying the rights of others so students can complete their semester and college education, Biden said.

The president defended the right to protest, but added that chaos is not part of peaceful protests.

“We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or suppress dissent. The American people are heard. In fact, peaceful protest is in the best tradition of how Americans respond to important issues, but we are not a lawless country either. he said. .

Asked if he would activate the National Guard, President Biden said no.

As wide as the divide is over the Israel-Hamas war, so is the divide between President Biden and former President Donald Trump over what's happening at colleges and universities.

“These are radical left-wing lunatics and they have to be stopped now. It's going to go on and on and it's going to get worse and worse,” Trump said.

Increasingly, police commands have been challenged, occupying parts of campuses with encampments, or taking over parts of buildings and barricading themselves to keep out law enforcement.

“Keep in mind that everyone who has been arrested anywhere in this country has all been arrested because they either had tents that broke a rule or were told to move by police officers and refused to move. No one is being arrested for speech because they don't can be arrested for their speech,” said Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center at Tennessee State University.