Activists criticize prosecution of UC Irvine protesters [Video]

A group of people arrested at a pro-Palestinian encampment at UC Irvine in May are going to court this week.

The defendants were joined by leaders of several activist groups for a press conference on Tuesday, criticizing the university and the Orange County District Attorney over the charges.

“I stand with the courageous protesters because I cannot stand by and watch our society’s precious resources for education be stolen and misspent on militarism and genocide, and I will not accept being called a criminal for saying so aloud,” said Dr. Tiffany Willoughby-Herard, a tenured associate professor at UCI who’s facing felony charges for resisting arrest and resisting a peace officer with the threat of violence.

Willoughby-Herard said 11,000 people have signed letters and petitions demanding that the D.A.’s office drop all charges against the protesters.

The pro-Palestinian encampment had been largely peaceful for a few weeks, but when protesters surrounded …