Authorities in Southern California have pressed charges against 10 individuals, including two professors, following a pro-Palestinian demonstration last spring at the University of California, Irvine. The protest led to a confrontation with law enforcement, according to officials on Wednesday. Among those facing charges are two UCI professors and four students. They are scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 16 for arraignment on misdemeanor charges.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer emphasized the importance of peaceful assembly as a constitutional right but stated that criminal behavior beyond peaceful protest will not be tolerated. The DA’s office is still evaluating evidence to determine if charges will be brought against the other 40 individuals arrested during the May incident on the campus.

The university issued a statement reminding the campus community that all individuals must adhere to laws, policies, and codes of conduct while participating in protests. Earlier in the year, the university had permitted a peaceful encampment on campus despite policy violations. However, police were called in when a small group barricaded themselves inside a lecture hall, with support from a larger community group outside. Police in riot gear intervened, resulting in numerous arrests.

Protests erupted at multiple locations in the U.S. during the spring, including at various University of California campuses, with students calling for their institutions to sever ties with Israel and companies allegedly linked to the conflict in Gaza. The University of California, Irvine, situated in central Orange County, has a student population exceeding 36,000.