ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the Washtenaw County Courthouse Wednesday in an effort to prevent students, who were arrested in a confrontation with campus police this week over the clearing of an encampment, from being charged.

More than 100 people joined the rally in downtown Ann Arbor with Palestinian flags, a drumline and dozens of honking cars that showed support driving by. Leaders demanded Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit and Chief Assistant Prosecutor Victoria Burton-Harris drop all charges that get requested by campus police or the University of Michigan President Santa Ono against four people who were arrested, at least three of whom were students.

University of Michigan police cleared an encampment of pro-Palestinian student groups on campus early Tuesday morning, ending a month-long presence on the university's Diag over what university officials said were fire safety concerns.

UM police haven’t submitted the case for the prosecutor's review but do plan to do so, UM spokeswoman said. The Washtenaw County Prosecutor's office is awaiting police reports and charge requests, Burton-Harris said in a Wednesday email.

"The case will be submitted to the Washtenaw County Prosecutors' office for review. They will determine the charges," Melissa Overton, a spokeswoman for the university's Public Safety and Security Division and its deputy chief of police, said in a Wednesday email to The Detroit News.

Students at the university created the Gaza Solidarity Encampment in the heart of campus in April to demand the school divest itself from Israeli firms and companies contributing to Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza. Student groups are represented by the TAHRIR Coalition, a student-led coalition advocating for divestment in Israel and includes more than 90 student organizations.

"Police in riot gear raided the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at the University of Michigan," said Jared Eno, 42, speaking on behalf of the coalition. "UM’s Department of Public Safety and Security demolished the camp (by) assaulting and pepper spraying protestors, hospitalizing at least three people and violently detaining four. After the raid, Michigan State Police also appeared on the Diag. UM is now threatening felony charges against the four protestors who were arrested."

By contrast, the UM Board of Regents chairwoman welcomed the clearing of the encampment.

""We’ve taken back the @umich Diag," Board Chairwoman Sarah Hubbard said on X, including a video of the Diag and a bunch of maize and blue hearts. "Thank you to all our facilities people that cleaned & restored it so swiftly. Thank you to DPSS for their quick work & service to the University."

The incident began at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. Videos showed police officers pushing back protestors and using pepper spray and making multiple arrests of protesters who refused to leave the encampment. Those arrested were released five hours later.

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