Brown students arrested after pro-Palestine demonstration to appear in court next month

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Dozens of Brown University students arrested after a pro-Palestine demonstration on campus are expected in court next month.

Brown University officials said 41 students will appear in court in mid-February.

This came after a sit-in protest at a building on campus in December.

Brown University President Christina Paxson said in a letter that the group of students were told they had to disperse by 5 p.m. before the building officially closed, or criminal charges could be filed.

“Willful trespass of a school building is unlawful per Rhode Island statute and a violation of Brown’s conduct code; implications include arrest, criminal charges and review per the University’s conduct procedures,” Paxson said in the letter.

Brown University has seen several student protests calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East.

Dozens of students were also arrested at a similar sit-in protest on campus in November. Charges against those students were later dropped.