Eight pro-palestinian protesters, who were arrested when the NYPD broke up an encampment inside CUNY’s City College campus back in April, pleaded not guilty at their arraignment Thursday.

They face multiple charges. The most serious among them is felony burglary, for allegedly breaking into a campus building and occupying it.

Two other defendants face felony attempted assault charges for allegedly throwing objects at campus security.  

Only one protester facing charges was affiliated with CUNY, as a staff member at a community college.

There were dozens of supporters there, inside and outside of the courtroom. One who spoke to NY1 declined to give his full name.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for them to go to a criminal court, as if they’re committing a crime, because what they did was right and I clearly support what they did,” he said. “An encampment is not violent, just an encampment. They didn’t hurt anyone.” 

The NYPD entered the campus on April 30 to break up an encampment set up in protest of Israel and the war in Gaza. The same night, at Columbia University, the NYPD also entered a building protesters had occupied and made arrests.

From the arrests at Columbia University, 31 cases were dropped, while 14 accepted an offer to take instruction on legal protesting. One defendant still faces trespassing and other charges related to occupying Hamilton Hall at Columbia University.

“Today’s felony indictments make clear that we will not hesitate to prosecute those who destroy property or commit violence at any protest when we have the appropriate facts and evidence,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.

One lawyer for a defendant declined a statement to NY1 outside of the courthouse.

The eight defendants are due back in court Dec. 16. The judge warned them that she expects them to appear in court when scheduled and that if they do not appear, the case would continue without them.