Charges dropped against Northwestern staff members who participated in pro-Palestinian protests

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Criminal charges filed against four Northwestern University staff members over their alleged actions during protests over the war in Gaza have been dropped.

They were charged with obstructing law enforcement months after Northwestern students set up a tent camp on campus.

A day after the charges were made public, they were dropped.

One of them, assistant professor Alithia Zamantakis, told the Chicago Sun-Times before the charges were dropped, “It’s a pretty mind-blowing experience to have your employer send their own police after you to arrest you within your place of employment.”

Another, Johh Honn, a librarian, said, “It has the appearance that Northwestern waited over two months to make these arrests and file these charges under the cover of summer when students aren’t here, people aren’t paying attention as much.”

He said, “The timing makes it seem like Northwestern wants to take action but not have any accountability for their actions.”

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office said in a statement, “This decision is consistent with our office’s policy to decline prosecution against peaceful protesters.”

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