The closing statements were given on Monday in the trial involving the Irvine 11, a group of U.C. Irvine and U.C. Riverside students accused of disrupting a meeting and speech by the Israeli ambassador to the United States last year, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Ten of the students face misdemeanor criminal charges of conspiring to disrupt and actually disrupting Israeli ambassador Michael Oren's speech after they shouted at Oren during his speech on U.S.-Israeli relations.
The 11th defendant will not be facing charges after they were dropped in exchange for community service.
The prosecution presented its closing statement first, arguing that the "right to free speech is not absolute" and the students violated the 1st Amendment by substantially limiting Oren's ability to communicate his ideas.
Supporters of the students, including members of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, derided the closing statement as "political theater."
Each of the Irvine 11 pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor counts in an Orange County Superior Court in June after a judge denied a motion to dismiss the case. Defense attorneys had argued that the misdemeanor charges were unconstitutional and that the actions of the Irvine 11 are a protected form of free speech.
If convicted of the misdemeanor charges, each of the defendants could face a sentence of up to six months in jail, as well as probation and community service. The defense made their closing arguments Monday afternoon, and the fates of the members of the Irvine 11 are now in the hands of the jury.
"We patiently wait for the verdict and for justice to prevail," Shakeed Syed, executive director of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, said to the Times.
Related Resources:
- Find a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney (FindLaw)
- Closing Arguments Expected in Irvine 11 Case (Los Angeles Times)
- First Amendment - US Constitution (FindLaw)
- 14 Arrests at UCLA after Violent Protest (The Los Angeles Criminal Law Blog)
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