BOULDER — The three University of Colorado students arrested on trespassing charges during the Boulder campus’ controversial and unprecedented 4/20 closure last month pleaded not guilty Thursday and will ask a municipal judge to dismiss the cases on First Amendment grounds.
John Demoupoulus, 21; Jonathan Edwards, 25; and Gabriel Kuettel, 24, were arrested April 20 when they sat down in protest on Norlin Quad after the university — which already had barred nonstudents from campus — closed the field entirely in an effort to quash the annual marijuana smoke-out that in years past drew 10,000 people.
Attorney Sean McAllister, who is representing the three defendants, said he will file a motion to dismiss the charges, saying CU violated their rights.
“I think the bottom line is you can’t shout fire in a crowded theater, but you can stand up for your First Amendment rights in a public place,” he said after Thursday’s hearing.
