ISU protesters arrested for trespassing in Hovey Hall

Posted on May 4, 2024

*Illinois State University Police arrested seven people who were protesting the war in Gaza for trespassing after they refused to leave Hovey Hall on Friday. (Photo courtesy WMBD-TV)*

NORMAL (UPDATE Friday 10:21 p.m.) – Illinois State University has identified the seven people arrested in Hovey Hall on Friday.

The university said the arrests came just after 7 p.m. and after repeated warnings to leave the building. The students had arrived just after 10 a.m. Friday and were told when the building was to close. They were told that arrests and suspensions could come if they did not comply with university policy.

According to ISU spokesman Chris Coplan, the seven who were suspended and arrested are:

Steve Lazarov, 40, of Normal.
Jomareun Richardson, 21, Normal
Aiden Marcikic, 20, Mundelein, Ill.
Kevin Dion, 20, Normal
Jo Boedefeld, 21, Normal
Daniel Kimball, 20, Little York
Rebekah Mangels, 23, Normal

All of them were taken without issue, and transported to the McLean County Jail for criminal trespass to state property. Such a charge is usually filed as a misdemeanor but it is possible, under some circumstances, that it could be charged as a felony. It wasn’t immediately clear whether that was the case here.

ISU Police Chief Aaron Woodruff thanked the Normal and Bloomington police departments for their assistance with the arrests.

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