Students arrested during Clinton Queen visit complain to police ombudsman – The Irish News

Three students arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest at Queen’s University during a visit by former US first lady Hillary Clinton have filed a complaint with the police ombudsman.

The trio were among four people arrested during a standoff as the former US presidential candidate spoke at an event at the university where she is chancellor.

Dozens of students gathered outside the main campus last Thursday, some displaying a large image of Mrs. Clinton with bloodied hands.

Lawyers for the students say police intervened when an attempt was made to unfurl a large Palestinian flag on university grounds.

Three persons aged 18, 20 and 21 years were reported on suspicion of resisting the police.

The 18-year-old was also charged with obstructing police and the 21-year-old with obstructing police and assaulting police.

They are due to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on December 12.

The fourth man, 57 years old, was released.

In a letter to the ombudsman, solicitor Darragh Makin of Phoenix Law said his clients entered an area that was not cordoned off by police with the intention of unfurling the Palestinian flag.

Mr Makin said two of his clients were “singled out and detained … for having and attempting to open a Palestinian flag”.

A barrister defending Black Lives Matters protesters criticized the arrests and “the actions of PSNI officers both in the media and on social media”.

A spokeswoman for the police ombudsman said: “We received a complaint about the actions of the police during a protest outside Queen’s University (on Thursday).

“The complaint is currently under review.”

A PSNI spokeswoman said: “As this matter is currently the subject of an investigation by the Office of the Police Ombudsman, it would be inappropriate to comment at this time.”

Earlier, the police stated that “the right to protest, freedom of speech and assembly are basic human rights.”

“They are protected by law and allow individuals to participate in peaceful protests, balanced against the rights and protections of others,” she said.

“What happened (on Thursday) cannot be characterized as peaceful.”