Overview

• Seven University of Michigan students charged with felony trespassing and resisting police during a 2024 pro-Palestinian campus protest had their charges dropped on May 5, 2025.
• Attorney General Dana Nessel attributed the dismissal to delays in court proceedings and an improper statement submitted by a Jewish nonprofit to the court, which she deemed inappropriate.
• Defense lawyers had filed a motion to recuse Nessel from the case, alleging political bias and selective prosecution influenced by financial ties to university regents.
• The case had become a focal point in debates over free speech, with critics claiming it criminalized political dissent and disproportionately targeted pro-Palestinian activists.
• While charges against the seven students were dismissed, related cases involving off-campus vandalism and other campus protests remain unresolved.