Charges Against UM Pro-Palestinian Protests Dropped

MICHIGAN — Officials have dropped charges against a group of people who were arrested in connection with pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Michigan last year, according to the Michigan Attorney General's Office.

Seven people were charged with trespassing and resisting and/or obstructing a police officer after officers cleared an encampment on the University of Michigan Diag in May 2024. The protesters demanded the school divest itself from Israeli companies amid Israel's war with Hamas.

"When my office made the decision to issue charges of trespassing and resisting and obstructing a police officer in this matter, we did so based on the evidence and facts of the case," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. "I stand by those charges and that determination."

Nessel said that despite months and months of court hearings, a judge has yet to determine if officials had probable cause to press the charges, and if they could stand trial. She also said the case has become a "lightning rod of contention."

Last month, defense lawyers called for Nessel to recuse herself from the case for "bias against Muslims and/or people of Arab descent," according to an NPR report.

In a statement issued after the court hearing, Nessel defended herself and her decision to seek the felony charges.

"Baseless and absurd allegations of bias have only furthered this divide," Nessel said. "The motion for recusal has been a diversionary tactic, which has only served to further delay the proceedings. And now, we have learned that a public statement in support of my office from a local non-profit has been directly communicated to the Court. The impropriety of this action has led us to the difficult decision to drop these charges."

The decision to drop the charges also comes days after Nessel's office received a letter from the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, which defended her from accusations of bias, the Detroit Free Press reported.

"The notion that AG Nessel is biased against Muslims and Americans of Arab descent is unfounded and deeply offensive," the letter said. "Nessel has a strong history of uplifting those in both the Muslim and Arab American communities."

Nessel said Monday the letter was inappropriate.

"We have learned that a public statement in support of my office from a local non-profit has been directly communicated to the court," Nessel's statement said. "The impropriety of this action has led us to the difficult decision to drop these charges."

Nessel said the distractions and ongoing delays have created a "circus-like atmosphere."

"While I stand by my charging decisions, and believe, based on the evidence, a reasonable jury would find the defendants guilty of the crimes alleged, I no longer believe these cases to be a prudent use of my department’s resources, and, as such, I have decided to dismiss the cases," Nessel said.