CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA  (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – A petition with more than 500 signatures is calling for the immediate dismissal of charges against a group of UVA student protesters, which were levied by the University Judiciary Committee (UJC).

The protesters were involved in a demonstration on May 4, 2024, when a pro-Palestinian encampment on UVA Grounds was dismantled by police. A total of 25 arrests were made following the protest. Law enforcement, led by Albemarle County Prosecutor Jim Hingeley, determined there was insufficient evidence to proceed with criminal charges, and all no-trespass orders have since been dropped.

According to the petition, the 2024-25 academic year is uncertain for the students involved, as the UJC charges are the only remaining sanctions. The petition also highlights that peer institutions, such as the University of Chicago, have already dropped similar charges against student protesters.

In addition, the American Association of University Professors has criticized the UVA administration’s decision to pursue these charges. In a recent statement, they argued that administrators who claim to protect academic freedom through “expressive activity” policies are, in fact, limiting the very freedoms of speech and expression they aim to defend.