11 indicted for pro-Palestinian vandalism at CWRU
Eleven pro-Palestinian protesters were indicted Wednesday in connection with acts of vandalism at Case Western Reserve University last November.
Why it matters: Student demonstrators and their allies continue to face reprisals for a pro-Palestinian encampment outside the campus library last May and subsequent acts of protest during the Israel-Hamas war and the destruction of Gaza.
State of play: The 11 indicted are between the ages of 20 and 25 and could face six months or more in prison for three felony counts each of breaking and entering, possessing criminal tools and vandalism.
Zoom in: The indictment alleges the protesters "broke into" the CWRU campus between 3:30 and 4:30am on Nov. 8, 2024, and smeared gallons of red paint on buildings, walkways, an electrical pole and a campus statue.
The incident caused $400,000 in property damage, according to Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley.
What they're saying: "Peaceful protests are a fundamental cornerstone of our democracy," O'Malley said in a statement.
"When demonstrators cross over the line and commit criminal acts, it is our responsibility to hold those individuals accountable."
The other side: Student protesters have accused CWRU president Eric Kaler of aggressively punishing campus activists for their political affiliations.
When campus police issued arrest warrants in January, the Students for Justice in Palestine group characterized Kaler's pursuit of student protesters as a "politically-motivated attempt to silence Palestine advocacy."
It "reflects poorly on the institution for higher-learning's ability to engage with and respect a racially, ethnically, and politically diverse student body," the statement read.
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