Editor’s Note: Benjamin Choucroun is a former Chair of the Daily’s Editorial Board. Choucroun was not involved in the writing or editing of this article.
This article was last updated on Nov. 5.
Two Tufts students are among the 13 people arrested on Oct. 7 in the Boston Common after a 300-person pro-Palestine protest ended in a brawl with police officers, four of whom were reportedly injured.
Senior Roder Atwood and junior Benjamin Choucroun were both arrested on charges of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.
Atwood, additionally accused of assault and battery on a police officer and destruction of property, pleaded not guilty in Boston Municipal Court on the morning of Oct. 8. His bail is set at $10,000 and he reappeared in court on Oct. 30.
On Nov. 4, all of Choucroun's charges were dropped. He was initially released on a bail of $500.
The Boston Police Department said in a statement that the protesters blocked Tremont Street near Winter Street around 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday night, preventing police cars from passing through while officers were responding to an “unrelated emergency three blocks away.”
“When officers attempted to move the group to the sidewalk to allow emergency vehicles to pass, protesters surrounded police cruisers, kicked vehicle doors, and resisted dispersal efforts,” the statement reads. “Several officers were assaulted during this period, including one struck in the face. Protesters also ignited smoke devices and flares, further endangering officers and bystanders.“
The “non-life threatening injuries“ include a broken nose, broken pinky, back strain as well as eye and respiratory irritation from some form of mace to the four hurt officers respectively.
Videos taken at the protest seemed to tell a different story than the one presented by police. Several of those arrested appeared to be compliant to police arrest.
“The allegations are serious and concerning,” Tufts Executive Director of Media Relations Patrick Collins wrote in an email to the Daily. “We are working with Boston police to obtain more information, and we will hold accountable any student who is found to have broken the law or violated university policy or our code of conduct.”
Josué Pérez and Matthew Sage contributed reporting.
This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.
