Knoxville, Tennessee, October 7, 2025
News Summary
Criminal charges against University of Tennessee students and local activists involved in pro-Palestinian protests have been dismissed by the Knox County District Attorney’s Office. The dismissal followed the protesters’ completion of 100 hours of community service. The original charges stemmed from a pro-Palestinian rally that called for the university to sever ties with Israeli weapon manufacturers. The protest raised important questions about free speech and the rights of students to assemble peacefully.
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE
Criminal charges against University of Tennessee (UT) students and community members involved in pro-Palestinian protests have been dismissed. The Knox County District Attorney’s Office confirmed these dismissals on October 4, 2025, after the completion of 100 hours of community service by the protesters.
Initially, eleven protesters were charged in June 2024 with criminal trespassing, a Class C misdemeanor, under a Tennessee law prohibiting unauthorized camping on public property. The arrests occurred during a pro-Palestinian rally held on campus, where demonstrators demanded that UT sever ties with Israeli weapons manufacturers and halt study abroad programs in Israel.
Attorney Dillon Zinser Nehls, representing one of the defendants, argued that the prosecutions were an overreach and emphasized the chilling effect on free speech and the right to protest. Yassin Terrou, a prominent local business owner and one of the arrested protesters, claimed that the prosecution amounted to an abuse of power and urged UT to lift existing trespassing bans against him and other involved individuals.
Pro-Palestinian advocacy efforts at UT have included demands for divestment from companies connected to Israel. In a separate development, two protesters, Hasan Husain and Layla Soliz, have filed a federal lawsuit asserting that their First Amendment rights were violated during the protests. The lawsuit alleges that the protesters were wrongly arrested for peacefully assembling and contends that the university’s time and space restrictions on demonstrations were unconstitutional.
The students involved in the protests maintain that their arrests were not justified under the civil camping law, as they did not sleep on the campus lawns but remained engaged in peaceful demonstrations. Additionally, Soliz previously settled a separate lawsuit with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office concerning the inappropriate posting of her mugshot.
Students involved in the protests faced disciplinary proceedings, including bans that prevented non-student community members from returning to campus throughout the ongoing legal process. The outcomes of these legal actions and their implications for free speech on college campuses remain to be seen as the community reflects on the values of protest and dissent.
FAQs
What were the charges against the protesters?
Eleven protesters were initially charged in June 2024 with criminal trespassing, a Class C misdemeanor, under a Tennessee law prohibiting unauthorized camping on public property.
When were the charges dismissed?
The Knox County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the dismissals on October 4, 2025, after the completion of 100 hours of community service by the protesters.
What were the objectives of the pro-Palestinian protests at UT?
Participants of the protests called for UT to sever ties with Israeli weapons manufacturers and halt study abroad programs in Israel.
What legal actions have been taken by the protesters?
Two protesters, Hasan Husain and Layla Soliz, have filed a federal lawsuit asserting that their First Amendment rights were violated during the protests.
Summary of Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Charges Dismissed | Criminal charges were dismissed after community service completion. |
| Date of Dismissal | October 4, 2025 |
| Initial Charges | Criminal trespassing, a Class C misdemeanor. |
| Number of Protesters Charged | Eleven protesters initially charged. |
| Objectives of Protests | To sever ties with Israeli weapon manufacturers and halt study abroad programs in Israel. |
| Related Legal Actions | Federal lawsuit claiming First Amendment violations filed by two protesters. |
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Additional Resources
- Tennessee Lookout: Knox County Drops Criminal Charges for Pro-Palestinian Protesters at University of Tennessee
- WBIR: Lawsuit Filed Against University of Tennessee After Arrests of Pro-Palestinian Advocates
- Knox News: Trump Department of Education Threatens University of Tennessee Over Antisemitism Complaint
- Wikipedia: First Amendment to the United States Constitution
- Google Search: pro-Palestinian protests
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