Lang
2/2/24
The Johnson County Democrats have declined to censure county attorney Rachel Zimmerman Smith for prosecuting seven protestors arrested at a demonstration on the University of Iowa campus last fall.
The protest was in response to the student group Young Americans for Freedom bringing in anti-trans activist Chloe Cole to speak at the Iowa Memorial Union last October. Nearly 150 people 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.
Some local Democrats…including county supervisors Jon Green and V Fixmer-Oraiz…have called for Zimmerman Smith to drop the charges. Green says that would show the legislature that Johnson County supports the Constitutional right to protest. He submitted a resolution to the Johnson County Democrats calling for Zimmerman Smith to be censured. The group’s central committee voted down the resolution by a 26-13 vote at Thursday night’s meeting after heated debate from both sides.
Six of the protestors have already accepted plea deals, while the seventh is set to stand trial in March. If convicted, they face a maximum of 60 days in jail.