April 24, 2025
(McKinney, Texas) – Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced today that 14 individuals have been indicted for Obstruction of a Passageway, a Class B misdemeanor, following a protest and unauthorized encampment at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) on May 1, 2024.
“Free speech is protected. Blocking access and refusing lawful commands is not,” said Willis. “These charges reflect that a clear line exists between protest and unlawful disruption.”
The protest, organized by Students for Justice in Palestine, involved the construction of an unauthorized encampment in Chess Plaza. Protesters used tents, tarps, wooden structures, tires, chains, and other materials to block a pedestrian walkway. University officials instructed protesters to remove the encampment. When some refused, law enforcement officers dismantled the site.
While many individuals complied and left the area, a group of 14 protesters sat down in an outward-facing circle, locked arms, and refused repeated commands to clear the walkway. Officers arrested 21 individuals for Criminal Trespass, a misdemeanor offense under Texas law.
After reviewing the evidence, prosecutors presented the case to a Collin County grand jury. The grand jury returned indictments for Obstruction of a Passageway against 14 individuals. The remaining seven cases were no-billed and will not be prosecuted.
Obstruction of a Passageway is a Class B misdemeanor under Texas law, punishable by up to 180 days in jail, a fine of up to $2,000, or community supervision.
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