Jury finds protester guilty of disorderly conduct for blocking traffic during Walsh visit
A Johnson County jury believes a protester illegally impeded traffic when conservative commentator Matt Walsh visited the University of Iowa campus last year.
Robert "Ajax" Ehl was convicted of disorderly conduct on April 10, a serious misdemeanor.
Hundreds of protesters surrounded the Iowa Memorial Union and nearby streets on April 19, 2023, where Walsh was speaking as a guest of the University of Iowa chapter of Young Americans for Freedom. He also screened his contentious documentary, "What is a Woman?"
Protesters are blocking Walsh’s most direct driving route after leaving the IMU at the corner of Jefferson and Madison.
Police have had Market and Madison north of Iowa shut down for about 15 minutes, but cars leaving the parking garage are stuck as of now. pic.twitter.com/au8CHeZMxO— Ryan Hansen (@ryanhansen01) April 20, 2023
Protesters packed Madison Street and Jefferson Street and marched through the nearby intersection during and after Walsh's appearance, chanting pro-trans slogans. Police eventually redirected traffic in the area after attempts to ease cars through the intersection failed.
More: Johnson County supervisors set recommended minimum wage to $12.64 an hour
Ehl arrested for blocking traffic
Police said that Ehl, 54, stood in front of two moving vehicles on the night of April 19, 20223. Local police and a University of Iowa administrator asked Ehl to stop blocking traffic, according to court documents. Ehl subsequently stepped in front of another vehicle.
Video of the interaction between Ehl and police was shown in court as part of the state's exhibits.
The Johnson County attorney's office also presented two screenshots of body camera footage. The video showed Ehl standing in front of a few vehicles trying to leave the south parking lot near the Iowa Memorial Union, a route with only one entry and exit point.
Ehl is set to be sentenced on May 15.
From February: Charges against seven trans protesters spark uproar in Johnson County
Trial follows arrest of several protesters
Ehl is one of several Iowa City protesters to face criminal charges in the last 12 months.
Two members of the LBTQ+ community were found guilty of disorderly conduct by a jury in February after police said they dropped hundreds of marbles from a backpack onto the floor during protests inside the Iowa Memorial Union during Walsh's visit last April.
Seven protesters — all members of the trans community — were charged with disorderly conduct and interference with official acts after participating in another large protest in October 2023 during Chloe Cole's campus visit. Cole is a "de-transitioned" teen who has publicly opposed childhood gender transitioning after experiencing it firsthand. Her visit drew more than 100 protesters onto the streets surrounding the Iowa Memorial Union.
Those charges drew public criticism in early February as the county Democratic party considered, but ultimately overwhelmingly denied, a censure of county attorney Rachel Zimmermann Smith.
The most high-profile of those charges involved Tara Dutcher, a transgender protester who was the lone protester of the seven to take their case to trial rather than settle for a plea deal.
They were acquitted by a jury on both counts in March.
From March: Jury acquits Dutcher of disorderly conduct, interference with official acts
Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Protester found guilty of blocking traffic during UI Matt Walsh event
