SANTA ANA (CNS) – Three men involved in pro-Palestianian protests on the UC Irvine campus nearly two years ago refused to leave as ordered by law enforcement, a prosecutor told jurors Monday, but the defendants’ attorneys said the police had no right to end the demonstrations.
Adel Shaker Hijazi, 42, Malik Alrefai, 25, and Jacob Andrew Hernandez, 33, are all charged with misdemeanor refusal to disperse from the May 15, 2024, protests on the campus.
Deputy District Attorney Matthew Bradbury said the three are among 49 arrested when law enforcement shut down protests, which started April 29, 2024, in the aftermath of Israel’s response to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks…