It’s surprising that people are actually being held accountable for this.
The News-Gazette reports:
2 more charged in pro-Palestinian protests on UI campus based on videosTwo more people are facing charges in pro-Palestinian demonstrations in April on the University of Illinois campus.Elizabeth A. Sotiropoulos, 35, of Champaign and Joseph M. Kleckner, 25, of Savanna were each arraigned this week on one count of mob action, a Class 4 felony, and one count of obstructing a peace officer, a misdemeanor.The charges filed against Sotiropoulos, a former Champaign school board member, and Kleckner bring the total number of people formally charged with mob action — defined as having used force or violence alongside others to disturb public peace — to five.Two more people have also been served notices to appear in court in early August on unspecified charges, Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz said, and additional notices may be issued as University of Illinois police have identified others who allegedly committed crimes during the protest.Demonstrators gathered on UI property near the Alma Mater statue around 6 a.m. that Friday and began erecting tents in violation of campus policies on “outdoor displays” and “expressive activity on campus,” Rietz said.UI officials said they informed the group that they were violating school policies, asked them to leave and told the demonstrators that they would be charged with trespassing if they stayed.Rietz said UI officials attempted to negotiate with the group between 6 and 8 a.m. to remove the structures, but UI police became concerned about social-media postings requesting that more people come to “defend the camp.”At 8:23 a.m., UI police said the group had erected eight to 10 camping tents and a “larger yurt structure” using a shovel to dig into the ground, Rietz said. Oofficers and university staff then arrived to remove the structures.
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