TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jul 2, 2025

A Knox County grand jury has indicted University of Tennessee (UT) protesters who took part in on-campus demonstrations more than a year ago against Israeli actions in Gaza, according to records from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. Seven of the 12 protesters indicted are scheduled for arraignment July 16 and July 22 in Knox County Criminal Court on charges of criminal trespassing, a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $50 fine, Tennessee Lookout reports. The others are still awaiting court dates. Attorney Dillon Zinser, who represents one of the defendants, said they plan to fight the charges. The protesters, including university students and community members, were arrested May 2024, during a pro-Palestinian rally at the school. Two of those arrested also filed a federal lawsuit against UT in May 2025, claiming the school violated their First Amendment rights during the demonstration.