CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – (CVILLERIGHTNOW) – A group convened outside Albemarle General District Court this morning in a show of solidarity for one of the demonstrators arrested during the UVA Encampment for Gaza protest at the University of Virginia on Saturday.

Kristen Finn was arrested and charged with felony assault of a police officer. She was one of 25 protestors arrested during the protest. Finn made a virtual appearance in court, represented by her attorney Jeff Fogel, after spending the rest of the weekend in Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.

Investigative journalist and Charlottesville Right Now host Courteney Stuart was in the court as Finn faced the judge. She reported after on what was happening in the courtroom as protesters rallied in support outside.

Finn’s attorney Jeff Fogel spoke with Stuart in the hours after the court hearing to share his insight about what happened, and talked about the legal challenges protesters are facing in the aftermath of Saturday’s clash with police:

 

Courteney Stuart also interviewed UVA professor Geeta Patel, who says she was right there and witnessed to what happened to Finn leading up to the arrest:

In addition to Finn’s court case, there were issues related to the trespassing charges for other protesters arrested Saturday, after a clerical error discovered in magistrate administrative records assigned the cases to the wrong jurisdiction.

 

Background: Live Reporting, Liberation Encampment for Gaza letter to UVA with deadline, and an interview with former UVA legal counsel/current UVA Law Professor Tim Heapy for legal insight into declaring a protest “unlawful assembly”: 

The protest on Saturday, May 3 escalated as the deadline for the UVA Liberation Encampment for Gaza’s list of demands (pictured below) were not met and the deadline passed.

The smaller group of people that gathered to peaceful protest on UVA Grounds throughout the week grew to a large crowd despite the rain and showed no sign of leaving as the noon deadline for demands were not met.

University officials had permitted the protestors group to demonstrate on the grounds as long as they did not put tents up or using loudspeakers.

UVA Police Chief Tim Longo asked the protestors to removal of the tents while indicating that the demonstrators could remain otherwise. That was met with resistance from some members of the group, the police temporarily left the area.

An alert went out to the UVA community that “unlawful assembly” had been declared at the Rotunda and the Chapel and to avoid the area.

Virginia State Police, UVA Police, Charlottesville Police, and the Albemarle County Police department returned in larger numbers wearing riot gear prepared to remove protestors as Israeli students cheered their arrival and protestors stood their ground.

Jay Hart reported from the scene as the chaos unfolded around him:

We hear from Jay Hart as the situation worsens, and tear gas filled the air. He reports from the scene as police work to disperse the crowd and move them toward University Avenue.

Former UVA legal counsel/current UVA Law Professor Tim Heapy talks to Jay James in the hours following the protest Saturday to share legal insight on what it takes to declare a protest at  UVA an “unlawful assembly”: