Texas: Travis County rejects all criminal trespass charges against 57 people arrested at UT-Austin protest

[Eugene]

Travis County rejects all criminal trespass charges against 57 people arrested at UT-Austin protest (Texas Tribune)

Criminal charges were dropped against 57 people arrested during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Texas at Austin this week, according to the Travis County attorney’s office.

But the Texas Department of Public Safety said Friday that it is launching a criminal investigation into a journalist arrested at the protest.

Criminal trespass charges were filed against the arrestees, who were booked in Travis County Jail on Wednesday, sheriff's spokesperson Kristen Dark said. As of 5 p.m. Thursday, Dark said all arrestees had been released from custody.

A spokesperson for Travis County Attorney Delia Garza said Friday that law enforcement lacked probable cause in the 57 cases she dismissed. Probable cause is the reason law enforcement provides to justify arrests.

https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/25/ut-austin-palestinian-arrests-criminal-cases/

[David__77]

1. Good

[Ping Tung]

2. Apparently, Travis County, TX, believes in the 1st Amendment. Bravo.

[HuskyOffset]

5. Well, it appears SOME of them do, so there's hope. (NT)

[MagickMuffin]

3. This was all at the direction of the Texas governor Greg Abbott

He is just another cruel, and determined to destroy Texas. He’ll Rick Perry was a more compassionate governor, although not by much.

Texas hasn’t had a good governor since Ann Richards.

[Eugene]

4. Texas Gov. Abbott faces backlash after mass arrest at UT Austin pro-Palestine protest

Texas Gov. Abbott faces backlash after mass arrest at UT Austin pro-Palestine protest (The Hill)

After Texas state troopers arrested more than 50 people at a University of Texas at Austin protest this week, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) is facing accusations that the state went too far.

Police in riot gear broke up an unsanctioned but nonviolent demonstration at the state’s flagship university Wednesday.

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4620838-texas-governor-abbott-backlash-mass-arrest-ut-austin-pro-palestine-protest/