In a recent legal development, a judge in Arizona has denied a motion to lift the suspension of twenty students who were arrested last week during anti-Israel protests at Arizona State University (ASU). The U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona made the ruling on Friday, as reported by local outlet ABC 15.

The students had filed a lawsuit against the Arizona Board of Regents earlier this week, claiming that their suspension from ASU was causing "irreparable harm" due to their inability to enroll in classes. Additionally, they argued that the suspensions violated their First Amendment rights.

The arrests occurred on April 26, when approximately 72 individuals, including both students and faculty members, were taken into custody for trespassing while continuing protests on the ASU campus. The police cleared the Old Main lawn area overnight.

Judge John Tuchi, in his ruling, stated that the students failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their claims of First Amendment rights violation. He also found insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the university's suspension of these students was causing "irreparable harm." It is important to note that the trespassing charges, which form the basis of the lawsuit, have yet to be brought to court.

Following the arrests, students and faculty members have been staging ongoing demonstrations, demanding that the university drop all charges against the protesters.

Meanwhile, the University of Arizona is also facing its own challenge as protesters occupy areas of the campus in opposition to Israel. University President Robert C. Robbins issued a statement on May 1, directing university officials, campus police, Tucson Police, and the Pima County Sheriff's Office to enforce campus use policies and all corresponding laws without further warning.

State troopers were seen on the University of Arizona campus, equipped with pepper ball guns and gas masks. Initially, demonstrators were given a deadline of 10:30 p.m. to disperse, with the threat of arrest for non-compliance. However, arrests did not commence until much later.

As the legal battle continues for the suspended ASU students, their motion to have their suspensions lifted has been denied, leaving the students in a state of uncertainty regarding their academic futures. The outcome of this case will likely have significant implications for the ongoing debate surrounding First Amendment rights and the extent of university authority in regulating student protests.