ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Four students arrested for allegedly plastering antisemitic posters across the University of Rochester campus faced a judge with a crowd of support on Wednesday.

The students are each charged with a felony second-degree criminal mischief. All four pleaded not guilty during the arraignment at the Monroe County Hall of Justice.

They were released shortly after the arraignment, leaving court flanked by their supporters.

“These are some of the most kind hard-working people that I go to class with and I see every day," said U of R student Sarah Lajitawi. "And it was just very difficult to watch them be put in this position."

According to the criminal complaint, the students hung four "wanted" posters at various locations around the campus. The complaint said closed-circuit TV captured them intentionally spraying surfaces with a substance and then affixing the posters, causing damage.

“I am very concerned that students of ours would be criminalized and taken to jail for exercising political speech, however one might think about that speech,” said University of Rochester Associate Professor of Religion Joshua Dubler, who was at court supporting the charged students. “My job as a professor is that I work, I believe in education. I believe students should have the opportunity to learn. Students should have the opportunity to make mistakes. If you view this action as a mistake without having their bodies put in a cage by the state, that's a severe overreaction."

That’s not what some students and others on campus say. The posters name specific people and depict images of university community members — many of them Jewish — under a “wanted” logo, criticizing faculty members for their alleged response to the war in Gaza. Some students say the incident should be considered a hate crime.

“Honestly, I was like, as an Israeli and Jewish dude on campus, I felt extremely concerned. It feels like almost this is a call to violence. If people feel comfortable putting 'wanted signs' and almost doxxing professors. I felt so uncomfortable,” said U of R Student Gilad Katz.

Rochester City Council Member at Large Stanley Martin was at court supporting the students charged.

“I'm disappointed. As an alumni of that institution, I'm disgusted," he said. "And as you saw, over 100 people were here today saying, 'this is wrong. This is not OK.' This is unjust."

As students left the Hall of Justice and headed back to campus, the University of Rochester publicly stated that law enforcement was sought for the protection of the community and in compliance with legal obligations of the institution.

“At this time, my office is going to be working with the University of Rochester, as we have been, to gather all discovery and make sure that we move the process forward,” Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Bianca D’Angelo said.

The Monroe County DA’s office says future court dates are set to confirm attorneys for students and next steps.