On Wednesday, police arrested 57 people, including one journalist, on charges of criminal trespassing on the University of Texas at Austin’s campus during a protest against Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza and the university’s investments in weapons manufacturing.
In a statement to the Observer, a UT-Austin spokesperson said that about half of those arrested were unaffiliated with the university. “Thirteen pro-Palestinian free speech events have taken place at the University largely without incident since October,” wrote Brian Davis, the spokesperson. “In contrast, this one in particular expressed an intent to disrupt the campus and directed participants to break Institutional Rules and occupy the University.”
A Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) spokesperson emailed the Observer a statement Thursday acknowledging that DPS had arrested a journalist and saying the case had been turned over to DPS’ Criminal Investigations Division. The spokesperson, Press Secretary Sheridan Nolen, also said the journalist was “seen hitting a DPS Trooper in front of him with his camera”—while the journalist has said he was pushed and did not hit an officer.
