September 11, 2014
Four pro-Israel students were arrested and charged with disturbing a meeting of the Ohio University student senate Wednesday, the campus newspaper reported, following an outcry after the senate president dumped red paint over herself to stand in solidarity with Palestinians.
The president of Bobcats for Israel was detained by university police as she read an excerpt from a conservative blog post, according to video of the incident (click to watch).
An Ohio University student was arrested while speaking to the student senate. (Screenshot: The Post)
Rabbi Danielle LeShaw told the Ohio University student-run newspaper The Post that the four students were charged with a fourth-degree misdemeanor of “disturbing a lawful meeting.” Under Ohio law, the charge can carry a maximum sentence of up to 30 days in jail and a $250 fine, the newspaper reported.
The students, identified as Maxwell Peltz, 20; Rebecca Sebo, 22; Gabriel Sirkin, 20; Jonah Yulish, 19, were released after they were arrested and ordered to appear in court Thursday morning.
Student senate President Megan Marzec last week posted video of what she called a “blood bucket challenge” — a take on the viral ice bucket challenge — to blast Israel for its actions in Gaza and demand that the university divest from Israel. She spoke at Wednesday’s meeting as well, though only the pro-Israel students were detained.
“I will never apologize for standing with the people of Palestine,” Marzec said.
According to the Post, the pro-Israel students began speaking during an open-comment period at the start of the senate meeting. The meeting reportedly “kicked off with yelling and confrontation between two groups supporting and opposing Marzec.”
The Post reported that it was Marzac who asked police officers to remove the four students from the meeting, saying their speeches against her bucket challenge had “disrupted” order.
