Detroit Prosecutor Declines to Charge Pro-Palestinian Protesters from Wayne State University Rally
In a decision that has caught the attention of many across Detroit, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced that her office will not be charging five protesters who were arrested during a demonstration at Wayne State University back in May. The news came on Monday after a thorough review of body camera footage and police reports revealed that the incidents did not constitute any crimes. This decision has reignited conversations about the rights of individuals to engage in peaceful protests and the boundaries of law enforcement during these events.
A Rally for Solidarity
The protesters were part of a much larger gathering that aimed to express solidarity with Palestinians amidst ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. Since October 7, a staggering number of over 40,000 Palestinians have lost their lives as a result of military actions following an earlier attack by Hamas militants, which saw around 1,200 people killed in Israel and over 200 taken hostage. The demonstration at Wayne State was described as both a show of support for Palestinians and a critique of the military actions.
Police Response at the Encampment
On May 30, in the early morning hours, police arrived to clear the encampment. Eyewitnesses reported seeing officers in riot gear surrounding the sleeping protesters. One protester recounted the harrowing experience, noting that police rushed in, handcuffing individuals and dragging them away. Out of the five people arrested, four were students, and it was noted that four of them were women.
The Prosecutor’s Findings
Worthy indicated that her office received five warrant requests from Wayne State Police in July pertaining to two specific incidents. The first occurred around 6:30 a.m. when police focused on a 22-year-old student protester wielding a bullhorn. According to Worthy, police officers grabbed her from behind, taking her to the ground despite her not attempting to flee. Worthy emphasized that the protesters’ actions were protected under their First Amendment right to free speech and thus could not be deemed trespassing.
Another incident involved a 53-year-old woman who shouted “that’s my daughter!” as police attempted to arrest the young protester. She, along with a 19-year-old female protester holding onto her, was also detained for trespassing. Worthy clarified that there was insufficient evidence to charge them, as they were demonstrably within an area where protests were allowed.
Addressing Unfounded Allegations
In a separate incident later that morning at around 8:15 a.m., a 20-year-old woman was accused of cursing at officers and allegedly hitting an officer’s shield with her arm. Worthy’s review of the body camera footage indicated that she never struck the officer’s shield. Another protester, a 24-year-old man, attempted to assist the young woman and was arrested for resisting and obstructing an officer. Worthy described his actions as merely stiffening his arms and said he faced charges for assisting someone who had not committed a crime.
A Broader Statement on Peaceful Protest
Worthy then reiterated her office’s commitment to upholding the right to peaceful protest, stating, “The right to peacefully protest and demonstrate is deeply woven into the American fabric.” She declared that her team had conducted a comprehensive examination of the cases and found that the behaviors exhibited during the protests did not meet the threshold for criminal charges. Worthy made it clear that her office would not tolerate any violence during protests, but asserted that this was not the case with the arrested individuals.
Additional tickets issued to other protesters during the May encampment will also be dismissed, further reinforcing the message that exercising one’s right to protest is an essential part of civic engagement.
