BREAKING NEWS

Conspiracy charges filed against Muslim students

SANTA ANA, California — Prosecutors in California on Friday said they have filed misdemeanor conspiracy charges against 11 Muslim students accused of disrupting a speech by Israeli ambassador Michael Oren at the University of California, Irvine, last year.
Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said that the students are charged with one count each of misdemeanor conspiracy to disturb a meeting and misdemeanor disturbance of a meeting. If convicted, they could face anything from probation and community service to six months in jail.
The students were arrested Feb. 8, 2010, after shouting and protesting during Oren's speech on US-Israeli security, forcing the diplomat to stop his remarks for 20 minutes.
Muslim students protested outside the district attorney's office earlier this week after word leaked that he had convened a criminal grand jury in the case.