By: Tracie Carter
According to information released by the U.S. Department of Justice, three Rutgers University students and a Cranford man face multiple charges, including rioting, following a protest at a campus event on April 29, 2025.
The demonstration took place outside Rutgers Hillel on the College Avenue campus in New Brunswick, where Congressman Josh Gottheimer was participating in a roundtable discussion.
Rutgers Police had designated a protest zone to allow for peaceful demonstration while ensuring public safety and access to the event.
Despite repeated requests from police to clear the public sidewalk, four protesters reportedly refused to comply, disrupting access to the facility.
As tensions escalated, Rutgers Police formed a protective line to restore order. When protesters attempted to break through, officers declared the assembly unlawful and issued a dispersal order.
Among those arrested were Thomas Whitehead, 25, of Cranford; Lexi Tassone, 21, of Cresskill; Hanah Hassan, 23, of Budd Lake; and Jasmine Rodriguez, 24, of Atlantic City.
Whitehead was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, rioting, and resisting arrest.
Tassone faces charges of rioting and resisting arrest, while Hassan and Rodriguez were each charged with rioting.
Whitehead is currently being held at Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending a pre-trial detention hearing scheduled for May 6, 2025.
Authorities emphasized their commitment to protecting free speech and the right to peaceful protest but noted that demonstrations cannot be allowed to interfere with university operations or threaten public safety.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Lieutenant Melvin Breton of the Rutgers Police Department at 848-932-8025 or Sergeant Andrew Winter of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-4178.