On Monday, 19 people who were arrested during protests on Ohio State's campus, were scheduled to appear before a Franklin County judge.
While those arraignments took place, another protest formed outside the courthouse. Those who took part, told ABC 6 they want the criminal trespassing charges against those arrested to be dropped.
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"One of my friends was arrested on Thursday and I am here to support her and all the others arrested," OSU student Tal Shutkin said.
"We are really hurt by the way the university brutalized our students, sent them to jail and called the police on them," OSU student Isabella Guinigundo said.
A total of 41 people were arrested during OSU's campus protests last week, including two who, through lawyers, pleaded not guilty on Friday morning.
ABC6 was in the courtroom Monday as 19 others were expected to be arraigned. None appeared before a judge. An attorney said the cases were continued to June 14.
"This is a matter of free speech and that is why so many people felt like they needed to come out and support those who we felt were unlawfully charged on a matter of free speech," Palestinian American Attorney, Mazen Rasoul said. "As an activist, I have never seen this much excessive force used against students for simply activism. There was nothing students did to interrupt the peace or the activities of the university."
In a statement sent to students, facility and staff on Monday, OSU President Ted Carter said the arrests made last week were necessary in order to protect student safety.
Arrests are not an action that I or any member of the administration take lightly. I have stated since the first day I was announced as president that safety will not be compromised. - Ted Carter
"I value and welcome free speech," Carter's statement said. "What occurred on our campus on April 25 was not about limiting free speech. It was an intentional violation of university space rules that exist so that teaching, learning, research, service and patient care can occur on our campuses without interruption."
You can read President Ted Carter's full statement by clicking here.
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"I was at the protest last week," OSU student Adam Kling said. "I had an Israeli flag wrapped around me. I stayed silent. All I wanted to do was sit there and listen and show what I stood for. People walked up to me, called me racist, they called me a terrorist. They called me a pig at one point."
Kling said despite what has transpired on campus over the last week, he's proud to wear the Star of David around his neck. He said while he may not be afraid, other students in the Jewish community on campus are, especially with commencement weekend approaching.
"We are hoping we can set everything aside and honor what we have done the last three, four years on campus and have a happy graduation that doesn’t have to be reflected by the horrors going on in the world right now," Kling said.
In his statement, Carter reassured students that campus events would not be overtaken by potential protests.
"Sadly, in recent days, I have watched significant safety issues be created by encampments on other campuses across our nation," the statement said. "These situations have caused in-person learning and commencement ceremonies to be canceled. Ohio State’s campus will not be overtaken in this manner."
Carter's statement also explained why police began arresting protestors Thursday.
"At approximately 5:30 p.m., a group of more than 300, many of whom were not students, faculty or staff at Ohio State, crossed College Road to the South Oval and set up an encampment. Over the next five hours, the group proceeded to establish and build upon the encampment, while being repeatedly warned that this was prohibited. The Ohio State University Police Division was the lead agency, and after numerous warnings, the university made the decision to begin arrests. At approximately 10 p.m., law enforcement began the process of arresting and charging individuals with criminal trespass for knowingly violating university policy and police orders."
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The university has said encampments are not allowed on campus because they create a need for around the clock security resources which takes away from the rest of the campus community.
"I acknowledge that even with additional facts about the incident and the timeline of events, some will continue to disagree with the actions taken," Carter's statement said. "I accept that criticism and will always listen to others’ concerns. In short, I take my responsibilities very seriously and am accountable for outcomes. Arrests are not an action that I or any member of the administration take lightly. I have stated since the first day I was announced as president that safety will not be compromised."
