Green Party Presidential Candidate Jill Stein was one of roughly 80 people arrested Saturday night on Washington University St. Louis’ campus.
The protest is coming after students were arrested and suspended last weekend during a sit-in protest at a university event for potential students.
Dozens of protestors were detained, including Stein, when they moved from the WashU campus to the St. Louis County jail in Clayton.
Stein spent six hours in police custody. She was booked in the jail at 7:26 pm and released at 1:30 am. Stein spoke with 5 On Your Side minutes after her release, saying she is facing charges of assault.
“I sat a long time sitting alone in a cell, and I had no idea— ‘Did anybody even know I was there?’ I was separated from the group, and I was like, ‘Am I going be there all night or in here for a week?'” said Stein.
WashU, in a statement, said everyone who was arrested will be charged with trespassing.
Stein said she faces charges for assault on an officer but claims she was the one assaulted.
“I got separated from the rest of the crowd, you know, and actually initially felt like there was a lot of safety in numbers. Then, it turned out I was being charged with assault after being assaulted by an officer on a bicycle and basically thrown onto my head.”
The Jill Stein campaign says the Campaign Manager and Deputy Campaign Manager were also arrested.
Stein said she doesn’t think these charges and the arrest will impact her campaign.
“I don’t think it really changes things except to show that we are not hypocrites, you know, and that we are really putting our money where our mouth is— that is behind students and young people and really supporting their moral authority to lead us forward on this issue,” Stein said.
