BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — The trial for seven people who were arrested at Illinois State University in May for protesting the Gaza war was moved back two weeks.
During a pretrial hearing in McLean County Circuit Court, the attorney for the seven protestors, Cheryl Weikel, asked for the delay, citing a busy two weeks without time for proper preparation.
She also said that this trial was “content based,” claiming the content in which they protested for was the basis of prosecution.
The judge allowed the delay, moving the trial back to July 31.
The seven people were arrested on May 3 following a meeting with ISU president Aondover Tarhule at Hovey Hall over the war in Gaza in which the defendants would not leave the premises after the building closed.
They were charged The defendants were arrested and charged with misdemeanor trespassing.
If found guilty, they could face up to 1 year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine.