Lang
1/31/24
Johnson County officials are calling for charges to be dropped against seven trans and non-binary protestors who were arrested outside the Iowa Memorial Union last fall.
Johnson County Supervisor Jon Green says he will introduce a resolution to the Johnson County Democrats at the group’s Thursday meeting that would call for denouncing county attorney Rachel Zimmerman for proceeding with the prosecutions. Green says dropping the charges would show the legislature that Johnson County supports the Constitutional right to protest.
The protest was in response to the student group Young Americans for Freedom bringing in anti-trans activist Chloe Cole, who transitioned to a male before de-transitioning back to being female. She spoke at the IMU on the night of October 16th. Nearly 150 University of Iowa students and others gathered around the building to protest Cole’s appearance. Seven were arrested for allegedly refusing police demands to move out of the roadway at the intersection of West Jefferson and South Madison Streets. Charges include Disorderly Conduct and Interference With Official Acts.
Last week the Iowa City Human Rights Commission also called for the charges to be dropped. The Commission also condemned recently-enacted anti-trans laws in Iowa, as well as new laws that criminalize blocking traffic during a protest.
County supervisor V Fixmer-Oraiz says they have also spoken to Zimmerman about dropping the charges, but she has refused.