Two Champaign men charged after demonstrations on UI campus
Apr. 29—URBANA — One demonstrator tied to pro-Palestinian protests Friday on the University of Illinois campus has been arraigned on charges that accuse him of fighting a police officer, while another demonstrator is scheduled to appear in court later this week.
On Monday, Champaign County Judge Brett Olmstead arraigned Christopher K. Zelle, 37, of Champaign on one count of mob action and one count of aggravated battery to a peace officer.
Another demonstrator, George A. Vassilatos, 25, of Champaign, is set to be arraigned Wednesday on one count of mob action and one count of obstructing a peace officer.
The two were part of a protest group that gathered Friday on UI property east of the Alma Mater statue, Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz said.
Around 6 a.m., UI police officers told the group they were in violation of a university policy regarding the use of the Quad, as the protesters were erecting tents and structures and putting supports for those structures into the ground, Rietz said.
Rietz said from 6 to 8 a.m., the group was given the opportunity to remove the structures but allegedly refused to do so.
At 8:23 a.m., UI officers escorted building-services workers to the area to remove the tents. The group responded by forming a circle around the tents and linking arms to prevent the workers from getting to the tents, Rietz said.
The group was warned that they would be trespassing if they did not unlink arms and allow the workers to remove the tents. They allegedly refused to comply, so officers moved in and physically broke up the human chain.
Vassilatos resisted with linked arms and, when pulled away from the group, went limp and dropped to his knees, Rietz said. This caused officers to have to carry him away from the group. He was then arrested and later released with a notice to appear in court.
Zelle was also present during the morning incident and allegedly "repeatedly engaged with officers," Rietz said. University staff were then able to remove the tents.
About mid-afternoon that day, a group of over 200 people wearing masks, face and head coverings started erecting tents again despite instructions regarding university policy against erecting structures on university property, Rietz said.
UI officials spoke with the group and advised them they were in violation of the policies, and the group was given the opportunity to remove the tents. UI officers and building-services workers then approached the group to remove the tents.
The crowd locked in an arm-to-arm stance in circles three-people deep surrounding the tents and supplies, Rietz said.
Some in the group allegedly held up a 4-by-8-foot piece of plywood, pushed it at the officers and hit the officers' hands with objects when they tried to get ahold of the plywood, she said. Others allegedly jabbed at the officers with umbrellas and grabbed at the officers' equipment, dislodging some of it from their duty belts.
Officers ultimately decided to retreat because the group was "so aggressive there was concern for officer safety and for the safety of those in the group," Rietz said.
UI Assistant Police Chief Barb Robbins was at the rear of the line of officers, and a person she later identified as Zelle blocked her exit when she tried to retreat, Rietz said.
Rietz said as Robbins tried to push past Zelle, he allegedly grabbed her wrist and used his body to block her from exiting. She was able to pull free from him and leave.
She said Zelle allegedly remained at the scene and was seen about 8:30 p.m. moving toward the Illini Union, where officers were staged. There, he stood and yelled at the officers. He was identified on video surveillance and taken into custody at the scene.
These events are the subject of ongoing investigation, and additional charges may be filed.
Zelle faces two to seven years in prison if convicted of aggravated battery to a police officer, a Class 2 felony. Vassilatos faces one to three years in prison if convicted of mob action, a Class 4 felony.
