ST. LOUIS — A former presidential candidate is charged with assault and trespassing following a April 2024 protests at Washington University, according to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. The prosecuting attorney’s office received 19 applications for similar charges, but suggest all but two are referred to municipal court. 

Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, 74  and Jeron Hicks, 24, were charged with several misdemeanors, including first-degree trespassing and fourth-degree assault on a police officer. Both charges are misdemeanors. Hicks was also charged for resisting arrest.

“I want to make it clear that these misdemeanor criminal charges are not a statement about the freedoms of speech or assembly, which we honor and uphold as part of our Constitution,” Prosecuting attorney Melissa Price-Smith said in a statement.  “They are not a statement about the subject of the protest, which was the situation in Gaza. These charges merely reflect our professional judgment that we have the evidence to prove these particular criminal charges beyond a reasonable doubt.”

According to court documents, an April 27 protest moved from Forest Park into the Washington University Danforth campus. Students were evacuated from the Ollin Library as protests entered and sat outside in tents. 

Court documents state that Associate Vice Chancellor, Dean Rob Wild, told protesters to leave, citing a violation of campus activities. Several dismissal warnings followed. Police and campus officers issued a final arrest warning at 7:41 p.m., according to court documents. Stein and other protesters linked arms, chanting “hold the line” as police officers approached, documents state.

According to police, Officer Conroy approached Stein on a bicycle, which Stein grabbed. Officer Moore interfered, when the bike injured his forearm. Court documents allege Stein kicked Moore multiple times. He was later diagnosed with a strained forearm and injuries to his leg and groin. 

A probable cause statement for Hicks states he spit on Lt. Gentilini while Gentilli was arresting protesters. Hicks allegedly resisted handcuffs while yelling at officers.  

Stein is set to appear in court on May 19, Hicks on April 22.

More than 100 demonstrators were arrested during the protest. Several student protesters were also temporarily suspended and banned from campus, according to Washington University.

According to a copy of a letter obtained by Spectrum News after the event, the school said the move is authorized by its Student Conduct Code.

"Your continued presence on campus poses a substantial threat to the ability of faculty and other students to continue to their normal University functions and activities. The reported behavior is of serious concern to the University," it said in part. 

The college issued a statement on the protests and arrests, saying: 

"On Saturday, April 27, a large group of individuals entered the Washington University campus with the intention of causing a significant disruption to the university. The group, which included WashU students and employees as well as many individuals not affiliated with the university, marched to multiple campus locations, pitched tents, and indicated that they did not intend to leave. They also put out a call for more people to come to campus to join their demonstration.”

The Washington University protest was among thousands of campus demonstrations related to Israel's offensive in Gaza. Demonstrators called on Washington University to divest its interests in Boeing, the defense firm which is a supplier to the U.S. and Israeli militaries, and a major regional employer in the St. Louis area.