Pro-Palestine student demonstrator charged with Mob Action after U of I protest

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A student involved in the pro-Palestine protests on University of Illinois campus earlier this year has been charged with Mob Action after U of I Police used social media to identify her.

According to Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz, Yafa K Issa, 18 of Savoy, was charged with one count of Mob Action, which is a class 4 felony.

On April 26, pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in efforts to demand the U of I divests from companies involved with supplying weapons to Israel in the war in Gaza. The demonstrators erected tents near the Alma Mater statue , which University officials said was a violation of campus policy regarding Outdoor Displays and Expressive Activity on campus.

University officials told the protestors they were in violation of these policies and if they didn’t take the structures down and continued, they would be asked to leave and could face consequences.

Tensions escalated throughout the day as U of I Police and staff removed some of the structures while demonstrators continued to resist. Throughout the day, demonstrators continued to grow the encampment, calling for more supplies and others to join in defending the camp.

By 3:15 p.m. that day, 16 UIPD officers along with university staff made efforts again to remove the tents. According to a document shared by Rietz, at this point, the demonstrators reached a total between 200-250 people. The demonstrators locked their arms together around the encampment to prevent being broken up by police. As police attempted to move in, the demonstrators pushed back, holding objects like a sheet of plywood, umbrellas and a drywall board to create a barrier between the officers and move them back from the encampment.

According to the document, demonstrators “grabbed at officers, shoved them, and attempted to strike at them using the objects.” It goes on to say that the scene was described by a U of I staff member as “like a mosh pit,” and they were concerned the demonstration would continue to escalate. The police officers and U of I staff then retreated.

Throughout the day, the pro-Palestine demonstrators had a large presence on social media. Many of the demonstrators filmed the encampment, posting the videos on social media in efforts to spread awareness of the encampment and to get other supporters to join. U of I investigators used one of these videos to identify those involved in the “mob action.”

According to the document Rietz shared with WCIA, Issa was seen on video locking arms with other demonstrators to prevent the officers and U of I staff from getting to the tents. She also was seen holding a large sheet of plywood, using it as a shield against law enforcement to push them back. A cell phone with a unique case and a necklace Issa was wearing helped investigators identify her based on photos she had posted on her Instagram profile where she was wearing the same necklace and holding the same phone. The investigators then confirmed Issa’s identity from U of I databases.

On the day of the protest, two arrests were made , neither of which person was a student. Rietz identified the two men arrested as George Vassilatos, 25, and Christopher Zelle, 37. Issa is the first student to face legal consequences for the demonstration

On June 26, Issa was issued a notice to appear. Rietz told WCIA the investigation is ongoing and additional cases may be expected.

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