University of Pittsburgh Police charged two men with rioting Thursday in connection to the pro-Palestinian encampments that took place on Pitt’s campus earlier this month.
Muhammad Ali, 21, is also charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstructing the law and disorderly conduct. Cory Roma, 24, has been charged with obstructing the law, disorderly conduct and defiant trespassing, according to court documents.
Neither was in custody as of Friday morning, according to court records.
The accusations come after around 40 pro-Palestinian protesters, made up of students and community members, took over the lawn of the Cathedral of Learning on the evening of June 2. Demonstrators were calling for Pitt to disclose its ties to Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
Throughout the days of protests, there were minor scuffles between protesters and police. But on the evening of June 3, the second night of demonstrations, things took a turn and interactions became violent.
The conflict included a pink smoke bomb firework and water bottles thrown at police officers. Officers were seen throwing some protesters to the ground. Medics were called to the scene, as well as additional police units.
According to the criminal complaint, at around 7 p.m., 30 people rushed the police barrier in an effort to dismantle it. Officers ran to the area and tried to stop the protesters, who were trying to throw items into the encampment.
At this time, an officer’s body-worn camera captured a male with dark brown hair, wearing a light pink and tan shirt, shorts, and black and white Nike sneakers, attempting to dismantle the police barricade, police said. He is seen multiple times trying to break the barrier and refusing to comply with officers.
While trying to handle the crowd an officer was rushed by three people, one being the man described, police said. The man grabbed the officer’s baton before the male was pushed back. He is then seen approaching the barricade and grabbing it before police tell him to back up.
Complying at first, the man then tried to rip another portion of the barricade out of an officer’s hands with another protester, according to the criminal complaint. This interaction injured the officer’s hands and knee.
Other protesters blocked off the man in an attempt to stop him from being apprehended by police, but the officer is seen telling the man that she recognized him from other protests, according to the complaint.
Police were able to identify the man as Mr. Ali through the body camera footage and other means on June 4, according to the complaint.
During that same interaction between police and protesters, an officer’s body camera caught footage of an “usually tall male” with a dark beard, wearing a pink shirt, black pants and black shoes, joining the crowd to dismantle the security barricade, police said.
The man was seen in the footage repeatedly trying to dismantle the barrier and not complying with police, “creating a danger to the officers.” The man, joined by other protesters, kept pushing the barriers into the police until they retreated.
Officers found a news article about the university encampments a day later, where a photo of the man was included, according to the complaint.
Through social media posts and the news article, the police were able to identify the man as Mr. Roma.
Ciara McEneany: cmceneany@post-gazette.com
First Published: June 21, 2024, 2:23 p.m.
Updated: June 21, 2024, 6:02 p.m.
