Fourteen pro-Palestine protesters — including seven UB students — were arraigned in Amherst Town Court on Tuesday for various non-criminal violations, including loitering, trespassing and disorderly conduct related to the May 1 pro-Palestine rally held on UB’s North Campus.
Town Justice Kara Buscaglia dismissed 12 of the 14 cases on the grounds of insufficient evidence, citing incomplete paperwork where the information “does not indicate direct knowledge or upon information or belief.”
According to a university spokesperson, the university “requested — to the Office of the Amherst Town Attorney — adjournment in contemplation of dismissal of the charges against UB students” prior to the arraignments.
The university spokesperson also confirmed that UB issued persona non grata letters to non-UB members before the arraignments, saying that the letters “do not have an end date” and are “subject to review one year after issuance, upon request.”
Buscaglia upheld the charges of loitering and trespassing pressed against one protester while dismissing the charge of disorderly conduct. The protester is expected to return on July 2 for further proceedings. Another protester’s case was deferred until Aug. 6.
The arraignments come six days after Jazmine Frazier, the only pro-Palestine protester to be charged with a criminal offense, was arraigned on one count of resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, and one count of loitering, a violation.
All charges are due to the protesters’ alleged conduct on May 1, when about 85 pro-Palestine protesters refused to disperse from the area outside Hochstetter Hall at sundown, resulting in police forcefully arresting 15 total protesters.
Students will not face on-campus disciplinary action.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include comments from a UB spokesperson regarding the university’s request to adjourn charges against UB students in contemplation of dismissal and the issuance of persona non grata letters to non-UB members.
Xiola Bagwell is the managing editor and can be reached at xiola.bagwell@ubspectrum.com
Mylien Lai is the senior news editor and can be reached at mylien.lai@ubspectrum.com
Xiola Bagwell is the managing editor of The Spectrum. She enjoys reading and writing fantasy/romance novels, watching lighthearted movies and spending time with her friends and family. Xiola is a linguistics major, minoring in Spanish.
Mylien Lai is the senior news editor at The Spectrum. Outside of getting lost in Buffalo, she enjoys practicing the piano and being a bean plant mom. She can be found at @my_my_my_myliennnn on Instagram.
