Michigan Attorney General Drops Charges Against Protesters at University of Michigan
LANSING, Mich. – Attorney General Dana Nessel announced on Friday the decision to drop charges against seven individuals involved in pro-Palestine protests at the University of Michigan in May 2024. The protesters were initially charged with trespassing and resisting or obstructing a police officer during the clearing of a protest encampment on campus.
In a statement, Nessel described the law enforcement actions leading to the charges as based on the evidence at the time. "I stand by those charges and that determination," she emphasized. However, she noted significant delays in the court proceedings, with no determination of probable cause made by the district court after months of hearings. This lack of progress has turned the case into a contentious issue.
Nessel expressed concern over what she termed "baseless and absurd allegations of bias" and described motions for her recusal as a distraction that further stalled the case. She pointed out that an outside group’s public support for her office had also been communicated to the court, prompting questions about propriety and fairness.
"In light of these ongoing distractions and delays, I have come to the difficult decision to drop these charges," Nessel stated, acknowledging that while she believes there was sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to convict, continuing with the cases no longer appeared to be a prudent use of her department’s resources.
The decision has generated mixed reactions among supporters of the protesters and critics of the initial charges, highlighting the complexities surrounding free speech and protest rights in the ongoing national dialogue about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
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