By Christina Smith

An Iraqi Veterans Against the War (IVAW) organized protest held just outside University gates on Oct. 15 led to the arrest of 15 people. An Internet-wide campaign branded the group “The Hempstead 15,” and in court proceedings Monday, all 15 of the defendants pleaded not guilty to charges of disorderly conduct.

According to the Facebook group “I Support the Hempstead 15,” updated and created by members of the accused, IVAW members and supporters were “peacefully marching” into the police lines blocking the University’s entrance, after having their “voices and issues ignored throughout the election cycle by the candidates.”

Responding to the protest, Nassau County Police attempted to dissipate the crowd with horses, injuring several of the protestors, said Hempstead 15 member Matthis Chiroux in a statement on the group’s page.

Chiroux’s statement also said that Nassau County refused to drop the charges against the 15, and that the court set different court dates for each of the accused. According to the New York State Criminal Court database, Monday’s ruling handed the defendants’ court dates ranging from yesterday all the way through January.

“The judge may have done this for the neutral reason of maintaining courtroom order,” said John Leschak, a first year law student at the University. “From a more cynical perspective, the judge was trying to dilute any solidarity and to reduce an adverse reaction to his ruling.”

Leschak attended a rally outside the Nassau County District Court during Monday’s initial court proceedings Monday, and estimated there were about 60 to 70 protestors there.

Following the rally, Chiroux updated the Facebook group to plead for members’ cooperation. “Please help us spread the word of the tragic events of Oct. 15 by continuing to forward information about the demonstration, Nick Morgan and the Hempstead 15 to your friends, relatives and co-workers,” he said.

The next court proceeding for one of the Hempstead 15 will take place in December.

Senior News Editor Samuel Rubenfeld contributed reporting to this story.