by Jasmin Shirazian
Alice Finen, an elementary school teacher and artist in the Humboldt community, was charged with trespassing and obstructing and resisting a public officer during the April 22 protest.
Finen joined Humboldt student activists outside of Siemens Hall after hearing about students needing support. She said she was concerned for their safety.
“I was trying to do whatever I could to stop them from hurting the students,” Finen said. “It was just instinct for me to not move, and tell the cops that they were hurting me and that I couldn’t move. They continued to push onto me and use their baton to push into me, pushing my neck and my chest.”
Finen does not recall exactly what happened, but suddenly she was on the ground with zip ties around her wrists. Finen is an alum of the university, and is disturbed by the reaction from the school.
“It’s unbelievable,” Finen said. “I graduated from Humboldt in the early 2000s. It makes me sick that the students were treated that way on their own campus and that I was arrested for trespassing on my alma mater.”
Police records show that Finen was the only person to be booked during the protests, but she recalls seeing other students being detained as well. Finen hopes that her arrest inspires students to continue their activism and show their support for the things they care about.
“I just want people to speak up and use their voice and to really think about what’s been happening to the Palestinians for so long,” Finen said. “This whole settler colonialism has to end. I would love for people to be inspired to speak up and speak out; to support student activism, because these people are putting themselves on the line.”
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