Show threadclawfulneutralDec 1, 2024

Rietz: ‘Speech is absolutely a protected right under the American system of government’

Months after they took part in a pro-Palestinian protest on the UI campus, 4 participants were brought up on criminal charges. In a letter to The News-Gazette, 37 UI faculty members call for State’s Attorney Julia Rietz to drop all current and future charges.

Rietz:

“Mob action” is defined under Illinois law as “the knowing or reckless use of force or violence disturbing the public peace by two or more people acting together and without the authority of law.”

If the government is attempting to enforce reasonable time, place or manner restrictions … and the government is met with physical resistance … mob action can be an appropriate criminal consequence to that individual’s actions.

The News-Gazette / https://archive.fo/TWwRT

Lifelong Democrat #JuliaRietz has served as the Champaign County state’s attorney since 2004, and ran unopposed in the latest election. @palestine

clawfulneutralDec 1, 2024

Illinois Students Who Protested Gaza Genocide Are Facing Felony Mob Charges

Students from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) — one of the largest public universities in the country — constructed an encampment known as the Popular University for Gaza in April 2024. They eventually voluntarily disassembled the encampment.

In July, Champaign County State’s Attorney #JuliaRietz — who has been on the faculty of UIUC’s law school since 2009 — began issuing summonses to appear in court for Class Four felony mob action charges, which carry up to three years in prison. Rietz publicly stated that these charges were pursued at the direct request of the university.

As the current round of Israeli violence in #Gaza surpasses the one-year mark, #UIUC has staked its position firmly out as one of the most threatening schools in the U.S. for students who are outwardly opposed to ethnic cleansing, #apartheid and genocide.

TruthOut / https://archive.fo/vtWWj @palestine