Why was Green Party candidate Jill Stein arrested?

Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein was one among more than 80 protesters arrested at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri on Saturday as a wave of anti-war demonstrations at college campuses sweeps the nation. 

Stein, 73, posted a video of herself, her campaign manager, and deputy campaign manager being arrested on X, formerly known as Twitter. Stein said she was charged with assaulting a police officer.

The third-party presidential hopeful and medical doctor joined students and faculty protesting the university’s ties to the Israel-Hamas war. 

Sign up for Your Vote: Text USA TODAY reporters and the elections team by joining our SMS service.

“The demand from the encampment was specifically for the university to divest from Boeing, which manufactures munitions used in the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza at their nearby St. Charles facility,” Stein said in a statement Sunday. “The Stein campaign supports the demands of the students and their peaceful protest and assembly on campus.” 

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

More:Jill Stein launches third-party 2024 presidential campaign, calling politics 'broken'

A separate video Stein reposted shows police officers pushing a bicycle into her as they clashed with her and other protesters.

“We’re going to stand here in line with the students who are standing up for democracy, standing up for human rights, and standing up to end genocide,” Stein said in another video at the protest before her arrest. 

Stein spent 7 hours in jail and then headed to another state event, this time in Columbia, to talk with community members about her campaign’s work trying to secure ballot access in the state. 

Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, as @rachelbarber_