The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today welcomed the dismissal of charges against 13 Princeton University students who were arrested after staging an anti-genocide sit-in on campus in April 2024.
The charges, which included defiant trespass, were dropped by the Princeton Municipal Court on June 17, following a year-long legal battle. The students were charged after a series of peaceful protests calling for divestment from companies linked to Israel’s genocidal military operations.
SEE: Princeton students see their charges dropped over sit-in for Gaza, 14 months later
In exchange for the dropped charges, the students performed community service and issued a letter of apology. The dismissal also means that the case cannot be retried, and the students’ records will be expunged.
In response to the court’s decision, CAIR-New Jersey Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said:
“CAIR-New Jersey applauds the court’s decision to drop the charges against these students, who were simply exercising their rights to protest and advocate for justice and against genocide. The right to protest and voice dissent is fundamental to the health of any democracy, and we are proud to stand with these students who peacefully raised their voices for Palestinian human rights.
“We also urge universities and other institutions to protect the rights of students to peacefully protest without fear of retribution, discrimination or criminal charges.”
Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report “Unconstitutional Crackdowns,” which reveals that Islamophobia continues to be at an all-time high across the country. CAIR said viewpoint discrimination against those speaking out against genocide and apartheid was a key factor in many cases.
In a separate statement, the students’ private attorney, Aymen Aboushi, said:
“As we said from the beginning, these students did not violate the law. They were exercising their constitutional rights, and we are grateful to have achieved this result for them.”
The students were arrested after staging a sit-in at Princeton’s Clio Hall on April 29, 2024, where they called for the university to divest from companies that have business dealings with the Israeli military. During their protest, which lasted less than two hours, they peacefully occupied an office suite to demand that the administration take action on their calls for divestment.
The dismissal of charges comes after more than 14 months of legal proceedings, including multiple court appearances, a rejected plea deal, and extensive public support from faculty and staff at Princeton.
CAIR-NJ remains committed to advocating for students’ right to free speech and assembly, particularly in spaces that should promote open dialogue.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, aelamroussi@cair.com, 551-208-5482