COLUMBUS, Ohio — Dozens of protesters gathered at Columbus City Council Monday night demanding the members help getting the charges dropped against the 36 people who were arrested last Thursday on Ohio State’s campus. The council allowed three people to speak during the meeting.
"I wouldn't put my worst enemy in those circumstances,” said Shayan Parsa, one of the protesters who was arrested Thursday.
Those who were arrested at Ohio State last Thursday said they gathered at the campus oval to pray. Students have been holding protests on campus for several months in support of Palestine, calling on the university to divest its ties with Israel.
"I witnessed folks of the Muslim faith, a faith I don't even share, pray as police pushed the line, broke the line and arrested people in the midst of prayer,” said Aaron Ellington, a protester who was also arrested last Thursday.
"I was zip-tied for six hours,” Parsa said.
Many of the protesters blamed Columbus police for the arrests, but city officials made it clear that their officers were not part of it.
"The Columbus Division of Police did not make any arrests on April 25,” Public Safety Director Kate McSweeney-Pishotti said.
Ohio State police officers and the Ohio State Highway Patrol made the arrests. Those who were taken into custody said they felt dehumanized.
"They proceeded to pick me up by both my hair and my neck and slam my head into the ground and hold me, before dragging me through the grass of my oval,” said Dalal Shalash.
Many of the women also had their hijabs forcefully removed as they were arrested.
The council members listened to each one speak for part of their allotted time before Council President Shannon Hardin addressed the group.
"This is actually not the body would determine who gets prosecuted or who doesn't,” Hardin said.
Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein’s office determines what charges will be filed. On Monday, the arraignments were continued until June 14. Klein's office said it will conduct a full investigation into the incident to determine next steps.
The response from the city council was not enough for those who continue to be impacted by this.
"You have only messed up since October, the least you can do with your community is work with us to drop the charges,” Shalash told councilmembers.
"For them just to have a reaction like that… we're dehumanized, we're so dehumanized. Over what? Over peaceful protests with tents,” Heba Latif, OSU Students for Justice in Palestine president, said.
Latif said the next protest is being held on campus on Wednesday. She is hopeful their demands will be met, or at the very least, listened to.