70 Arrested during OU Protest

70 people, including students, have been charged with criminal trespassing after a protest on OU campus broke University rules regarding safety and security.

The group’s aim was to demand the University declare itself a sanctuary campus. This is according to social media posts made by students who attended the protest.

Gathering at Baker Center around 5:30pm, the group was told multiple times that they had created an unsafe environment and safety issue. Nearly two hours later, the police warned that anyone who did not leave immediately would be arrested.

So, around 30 minutes later, they started arresting people. Ohio University has released a full statement:

“Disruption of University operations is unlawful. With safety and security at the forefront of all concerned, OUPD and University administration worked together to arrange an alternate space for protestors to gather that would protect students, faculty and staff. In addition, alternate space allocated would not block ingress and egress from Baker Center and would allow for University operations to continue uninterrupted. Protestors gathered at Baker Center at approximately 5:30 pm. Protestors were informed repeatedly that they were impacting operations, egress and creating a safety issue. At approximately 7:22 p.m. OUPD Chief Andrew Powers delivered his first warning that anyone refusing to leave would be arrested within the hour. They were given ample opportunity and time to relocate, and at 7:58 p.m. OUPD began arresting anyone who refused to leave. Approximately 70 protestors were arrested and charged with criminal trespass.”

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