An MSU student was arrested Thursday afternoon after flipping over a table and striking two students at a demonstration in Brody Hall, according to MSU Police and Public Safety Spokesperson Dana Whyte.
The demonstration, set up by student organization Young Americans for Freedom at Michigan State University, or YAFMSU, featured a transgender pride flag with the words “DO NO HARM” written over it as well as flyers that stated “men cannot be women.”
The group received prior approval to set up the table in Brody Hall, Whyte said.
After the group’s table “drew attention from other students,” officers were present to mediate the situation. At that point, Whyte said, a student approached the table and flipped it over before striking two students from YAFMSU.
The student was arrested for simple assault and violating MSU Ordinance 15.03 which states “No person shall obstruct, hinder, or impede the normal use or operation of any campus building or area which has been assigned or scheduled for educational or extracurricular activities.”
Following the arrest, the student was processed and released pending a review of the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office.
In a statement to the State News, Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Genyne Royal maintained MSU’s support of students’ first amendment rights as well as its commitment to supporting marginalized students.
“We support our students as they exercise their right to free speech, as well as the rights of others to disagree in a peaceful manner. We support all of our students, in particular those who are marginalized and minoritized here on campus and in larger society,” the statement read. “We believe that no one's identity should be questioned or devalued. That is the core of our institutional values around inclusion.”
YAFMSU was unavailable for immediate comment.
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