Charges Filed Against 49 in UC Irvine Protests

The Orange County District Attorney's Office has charged 49 individuals, including two professors and 26 students, with misdemeanors for failing to disperse during a pro-Palestinian protest at UC Irvine in May. This incident, which escalated when campus police called for support from surrounding law enforcement, resulted in over 45 arrests. Among those charged, some face additional counts of resisting arrest and vandalism. The DA stated that while peaceful assembly is a constitutional right, criminal activities during protests will not be tolerated. Critics, including CAIR-LA, argue that these charges are part of a broader effort to intimidate pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses. The first group of defendants has already appeared in court, with arraignments for others scheduled in the coming months.