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The Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office announced it has charged five protestors after they allegedly disrupted a Feb. 28 Ball State University board of trustees meeting.
In a news release, Prosecuting Attorney Eric Hoffman said his office has formally charged Joseph Souza, 22, Cooper Archer, 21, Keegan Bassett, 21, Jax Dodds, 21 and Zoe Rose-Dieguez, 21 with two counts each of disorderly conduct.
There were no attorneys listed for the five protestors on mycase.in.gov.
In a released statement, Hoffman said, “I am an ardent believer in the freedoms and rights embodied in the First Amendment. However, as our courts have ruled, those freedoms and rights are not absolute. A person does not have a right to disrupt a lawful assembly of persons. Law and order will be upheld.”
The Star Press in Muncie reported that, according to a Ball State spokesman, about 30 people “exercised their right to protest peacefully” at the Feb. 28 meeting, held at Ball State’s L.A. Pittenger Student Center.
“The individuals were protesting several issues, including pro-Palestine perspectives regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza,” the spokesman said.
But five of the protesters — including four Ball State students — “loudly disrupted the meeting by yelling,” according to a news release.
They then “persisted in disrupting the meeting” after being warned to stop by the board chairman, and they were arrested by Ball State police.
Those arrested were released after posting bond at the Delaware County Jail, the newspaper reported.
The charges are pending in the Muncie City Court. Judge Amanda Dunnuck will set the case for an initial hearing.
Pursuant to Indiana law, a Class B Misdemeanor is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
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