Pro-Palestinian protestors gather outside University of Utah commencement, move to county jail

SALT LAKE CITY — One person was arrested out of the dozens of people gathered outside the Jon. M. Huntsman Center Thursday evening for a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Utah commencement ceremony.

After the arrest, protestors then moved toward the Salt Lake County Jail, where the protest organizer was taken. An officer told a KSL 5 TV photographer the arrest was made because of something from earlier in the week.

The university says the woman arrested was not affiliated with the school. Officers noted in a probable cause statement that they arrested her on suspicion of criminal trespass, failure to disperse, and disrupting a meeting or procession.

KSL NewsRadio’s Clayre Scott was at the scene and said people started gathering for the pro-Palestinian protest at Utah around 5:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., they were chanting and speaking into microphones about their pro-Palestinian cause.

At around 6:30 p.m., a group of about 15 to 20 graduates walked out of the commencement ceremony to join them. 

Scott said protestors applauded those graduates as they came out to join the demonstration. 

Scott reported there was no counter-protest. She said police were in the area, but didn’t interact with protestors. 

This story will be updated. 

Related: Police begin dismantling demonstrator encampment at UCLA