The University of Texas students who participated in an April 29 pro-Palestinian demonstration on the main campus will not be facing criminal charges as a resul
as a result of their actions. That's the decision of Travis County Attorney Delia Garza who is dropping all criminal trespass charges coming from the incident. The county attorney says the troopers sent to stop the demonstration did their job and she did hers.
In announcing her decision to drop all criminal trespass charges, Garza did a bit of a balancing act. She says she supports the officers who filed the complaints against the protestors, but says her office had a job to do, too. Seventy-nine protestors were arrested on the UT campus on April 29. The university tried to end a growing pro-Palestinian demonstration by declaring the area as now off-limits and ordering everyone to leave immediately. Those who refused were arrested and charged with criminal trespass. The county attorney says she accepted the complaints because law enforcement did have the required "probable cause" to make the arrest. But she adds that– as prosecutors– her office had to meet a higher standard.Garza explains, “While police officers are held to the legal standard of probable cause in their work, as prosecutors we are held to the highest standard in the legal system, which is beyond a reasonable doubt. We have an ethical obligation to determine whether we have sufficient evidence to seek and obtain a conviction by a jury of one's peers. " Garza thanked the troopers for their time filing the criminal complaints and acknowledged they were just doing their job. She said, “I just wanted to emphasize that I understand the frustration that they feel. And again, they were acting at the direction of the governor and university leadership. They did what they were told to do." Garza added, “I feel like there could have been another solution to allow the students to voice what they felt like they need to voice.” And while many in the public may disagree with her decision to drop the criminal trespass charges against the campus protestors, Garza says she believes the decision, "aligns with the community.” Not all demonstrators are in the clear. Some were facing additional charges from their individual actions, and those are still being considered by the county attorney's office. And the UT students who participated in the protests are still facing possible discipline from the school.
Criminal Trespass Garza UT Campus Charges Demonstration County Attorney Pro-Palestinian
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