By SUSAN JONES
Charges have been filed against three more people in connection with the pro-Palestinian protest and encampment on June 2 and 3 on the lawn of the Cathedral of Learning.
Cory Roma, 24; Muhammad Ali, 21; and Cole Florkewicz, 24, all of Pittsburgh, have been charged by Pitt Police with obstructing the law, disorderly conduct and rioting.
Ali, who is a Pitt student, also was charged with two counts of aggravated assault. A Pitt spokesman said the University could not say if he will face disciplinary actions from Pitt, because it does not comment on student conduct cases.
Roma, who is not affiliated with Pitt, also faces defiant trespassing charges. Earlier this week, Roma was elected vice president of the Young Democrats of Allegheny County.
Florkewicz, who also is not affiliated with Pitt, also faces one count of aggravated assault. All three are scheduled to have separate preliminary hearings in July.
Police filed arrest warrants for the three men over the past two weeks after using body camera footage and other sources to identify them, according to the Post-Gazette.
On June 2, Pitt Police also arrested Donald Johnson, 34, of Pittsburgh, who faces obstruction, aggravated assault and resisting arrest charges. His preliminary hearing was continued until September.
The encampment was set up on the evening of June 2 and the group dispersed peacefully early June 4. The arrests both days came as people outside the encampment clashed with police as they tried to get supplies to those inside the enclosure.
The protesters inside the encampment were demanding that Pitt divest from companies and institutions that “profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide and occupation of Palestine,” along with a long list of other demands, which can be found on the Pitt Divest from Apartheid Instagram page.
The University said the self-appointed leaders of the encampment were not affiliated with Pitt and that Pitt Divest from Apartheid is not a registered student organization.
Susan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu or 724-244-4042.
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