DETROIT – Five people that were arrested on May 30, 2024, during a pro-Palestinian protest on Wayne State University’s (WSU) campus will not be charged and their tickets will be dismissed.
Two incidents happened on May 30 where protesters were arrested. When the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office received the warrants for their arrest in July 2024 and reviewed the evidence, including body-worn camera footage from seven officers and police reports, no charges were given and the tickets were dismissed.
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First incident
The first incident happened on May 30 at around 6:30 a.m. on Third Avenue near Atchison Hall.
A 22-year-old student protester was on the WSU campus with a bullhorn on Third Avenue, turning into the campus.
A WSU officer grabbed her from behind, and she continued to walk with the crowd for about five seconds. The officer then continued to hold onto her bag and jacket. Other officers then allegedly helped in taking her down to the ground. The 22-year-old woman did not try to run away and was placed under arrest. She was issued a ticket for trespassing.
During the incident, a 53-year-old woman yelled, “That’s my daughter!” When the first officer grabbed the 22-year-old, she, in turn, grabbed onto her. She was issued a ticket for trespassing.
A 19-year-old student protester was holding onto the 53-year-old mother as police were trying to arrest her. She, too, was arrested. During the process of her being taken down to the ground, her hijab came off. She was issued a ticket for trespassing.
The incident happened near where the protesters were told they were allowed to protest. It was on the WSU campus but in the middle of a publicly accessible sidewalk in the area of Atchison Hall and the College of Engineering.
“The 22-year-old protester was singled out because she had a bullhorn, exercising her First Amendment right to free speech, not because of an alleged trespass,” said the prosecutor’s office.
All three women were arrested for trespassing. The prosecutor’s office said it’s difficult to determine how publicly accessible sidewalks and streets are public or private—determining there was insufficient evidence to prove the three were trespassing.
Second Incident
The second incident happened on May 30 at around 8:15 a.m. at Merrick Street and Third Avenue.
Police said a 20-year-old woman cursed at officers and was walking with a crowd while filming the police with her phone. It’s alleged she hit one officer’s shield while gesturing with her arm and was arrested.
Body camera footage shows the woman gesturing with her arm, but she does not hit or touch his shield. The prosecutor’s office said there is not enough evidence to prove any crime happened—no charges were issued.
As police were trying to arrest the 20-year-old woman, a 24-year-old man tried to help her and pulled on her. He was pushed to the ground by another officer and stiffened his arms, refusing to be handcuffed. He was arrested for resisting and obstructing a police officer. The prosecutor’s office said evidence shows the man helping the woman being arrested was not committing a crime. No charges were issued for the man as there was not enough evidence.
Several other protesters were tickets, but the prosecutor’s office said their tickets will be dismissed.
“The right to peacefully protest and demonstrate is deeply woven into the American fabric. The WCPO has thoroughly studied and examined these cases and we have determined that they do not rise of the level of criminal behavior. We will not be charging any of these criminal case requests that have been presented to us. We will also be asking that the tickets issued to some of the protesters be dismissed. I want to make it exceedingly clear that this office will not ever tolerate protesters that engage in behavior that is not peaceful or turns violent in any way. But that is not present in these cases.”
Wayne County Prosecutor's Office
