Charges Dropped Against Northwestern Students Over Parody Newspaper

Following widespread criticism, Cook County prosecutors have dismissed charges against two students involved in distributing a parody of The Daily Northwestern to protest the university's stance on Gaza.

Cook County prosecutors dropped charges against two Northwestern students who created a parody newspaper criticizing the university's stance on the Gaza crisis.
The decision to pursue criminal charges against the students, both of whom are Black, sparked backlash from students, faculty, and alumni.
More than 70 student groups pledged to boycott The Daily Northwestern, and over 6,000 people signed a petition demanding the charges be dropped.
The Students Publishing Company, parent company of The Daily Northwestern, initially sought legal action but later advocated for dropping the charges to avoid punitive measures.
The case highlighted issues of over-policing and the criminalization of political protest, especially among communities of color.