ORANGE COUNTY, N.C. — Six protesters, facing charges related to pro-Palestinian demonstrations at UNC Chapel Hill, appeared in court on Thursday morning.

What You Need To Know

  • Six protesters, facing charges related to pro-Palestinian demonstrations at UNC Chapel Hill, appeared in court on Thursday morning

  • The attorney representing the protesters met with the district attorney and judge privately to set a future court date on July 30

  • The attorney also says more evidence, including body cam footage, is being gathered

Thursday was the first court appearance for several of the protesters charged at demonstrations on UNC Chapel Hill’s campus. Dozens of people gathered outside the Orange County Courthouse on Thursday, standing in solidarity with the people facing charges.

Jaelyn Miller, an attorney with Emancipate NC, is one of the lawyers representing some of the people charged. According to Miller, the students that appeared today are from UNC and Duke University.

During the hearing, just before 10 a.m., Miller met with the district attorney and judge privately to set a future court date.

Miller says they talked with the district attorney to get their perspective on these cases and says more evidence, including body cam footage, is being gathered. Miller says these cases will be continued to July 30 with the hope that, as more evidence is gathered, they’ll have a better idea on the charges moving forward.

As for the future of these charges, Miller said, “I think there will be a push to try to get them dismissed. It really just depends on a couple of things we're waiting on as far as evidence from body cam footage and things like that.”

Miller says attorney Pooyan Ordoubadi is helping to jointly represent the protesters facing charges and says they believe these charges are in violation of Constitutional rights.

“From our perspective as their attorneys, we think this was a blatant First Amendment, 14th Amendment violation on the school's part and on the police's part. Having that support from other protesters who believe the same thing, plus we're doing sort of a group defense, the whole goal is try to bring solidarity, try to put pressure on the DA to understand that these violations can’t stand,” Miller said.

“I just challenge folks to remember that the First Amendment belongs to everyone, not just those who agree with you, and without it, we could not continue to be the democracy that we are,” Miller said.

Miller is also representing other people who were charged during those demonstrations at UNC.

When asked about how those charged are feeling, Miller said, “I think it's always scary anytime you go through the criminal justice system for the first time, especially when you believe, rightfully so, that your conduct wasn't criminal and was an exercise of your rights. It can be a bit confusing why this process is being continued on and on as opposed to just being wrapped up,” Miller said. “They really just want to focus on the cause, the original cause, and continue to have everyone keep eyes on Gaza and Rafah specifically and not detract too much attention from that.”

Miller also shared a written statement from the people charged that reads in part, “We believe that as students and community members of universities that have historically uplifted, championed and praised student movements, our demands, grievances and actions are in step with past movements currently celebrated by these institutions.”

UNC saw hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters at the end of the school year calling for the school to cut financial ties with Israel. The protests led to UNC canceling its last day of class for the spring semester but finals, graduations and commencement were not canceled.