Champaign men arrested at UI protest charged with mob action
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Two men from Champaign have been identified as the people who were arrested on Friday during a pro-Palestine “encampment” on the University of Illinois campus.
Julia Rietz, the Champaign County State’s Attorney, said the men are George Vassilatos, 25, and Christopher Zelle, 37. Both are charged with mob action, a Class 4 felony, and neither are students at the university.
Rietz said that during the protest that started early Friday morning, as UIPD officers escorted university building services workers to remove demonstrators’ tents at 8:23 a.m., Vassilatos resisted officers by linking arms with others. When he was pulled away from the group, he went limp and dropped to his knees, causing officers to have to carry him away. Rietz said Vassilatos was arrested on the mob action charge as well as obstructing a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor.
Vassilatos was released with a notice to appear in court on Wednesday, May 1, where he will be formally charged.
Rietz said a UIPD investigation revealed Zelle was present during the morning confrontation and repeatedly engaged with officers. He was also present during the afternoon demonstration, during which Rietz said he interfered with Assistant Chief Barb Robbins’ attempt to leave the group of people that had gathered. Zelle is said to have grabbed Robbin’s wrist and used his body to block her from exiting the group.
UI pro-Palestine encampment continues into Monday
Zelle remained at the protest site until 8:30 p.m., when he started moving toward the Illini Union where officers were staged and yelled at them. Rietz said Zelle was then taken into custody for his earlier interaction with Robbins, having been identified on video surveillance.
Zelle is set to be arraigned on Monday on charges of mob action and aggravated battery to a peace officer, a Class 2 felony.
Rietz added that the investigation into the protest on Friday is ongoing and additional charges may be filed in the future.
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