KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee Police Department said it has resolved a complaint filed by restaurateur Yassin Terou after officers arrested 11 people at a pro-Palestinian protest on the UT campus in May.
Terou was cuffed and led into a paddy wagon after a group participating in the vigil was warned they were in an unauthorized area and had 10 minutes to leave. Terou said he tried to speak with police and asked if they could quickly use the area to mourn Palestinians killed and communities uprooted during the Nakba.
He was then arrested alongside 10 other people — including three students. The university said he was not affiliated with UT. At the time, a webpage with the Department of Religious Studies said he was on the Board of Visitors. A few days later, the webpage was not available.
Terou then filed an official complaint with UTPD about the arrest. He said officers aggravated existing nerve damage during the arrest, which caused his arm to need a sling. He spent part of the night in the hospital after he was arrested, Terou said.
UT also released a statement about Terou's complaint, available below.
"Mr. Terou has completed a complaint form and been in contact with our department. We will follow our process and investigate any concerns brought to our attention. All events from Wednesday May 15, 2024, are documented fully on bodycam. Per policy, we do not release the complaint form until the investigation is complete."
After an internal investigation, UTPD said that no violations of policy were committed.
Attorney Loretta Cravens issued a statement Tuesday night on Terou's behalf:
"Yassin has been and remains a member of the Board of Visitors for the University of Tennessee Department of Religious Studies. He is grateful that the University has made a decision that allows him on campus to continue to serve on the Board of Visitors. We continue to evaluate his options to serve the University of Tennessee and the greater Knoxville community as he has done for many years. Yassin looks forward to the day when peaceful protest is no longer necessary to communicate messages of peace, togetherness, and human kindness."
