We really appreciate Zachary Oren Smith taking the time to talk to Tara for Iowa Public Radio.

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Protester charged in Iowa City demonstration goes to trial by Zachary Oren Smith for IowaPublicRadio.org

A protester facing charges for a demonstration in October has rejected a plea deal and is going to trial.

Coralville resident Tara McGovern was one of seven people arrested under the state’s new penalties for protest-related crimes. They were protesting a lecture by a California activist who opposes gender-affirming care for minors.

It took University of Iowa Police a month before they charged protesters for blocking traffic for 20 minutes and interfering with police.

The Johnson County Attorney’s Office has offered plea deals to drop the serious misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges while preserving a simple misdemeanor charge for interfering with police. McGovern has rejected the deal, saying the actions were within the scope of lawful assembly.

“I don’t believe that anybody at that protest did anything wrong. And I don’t want to plead guilty to something that isn’t wrong.”

McGovern’s trial is scheduled for late February.