Twelve individuals have been formally charged with criminal offenses stemming from a disruptive protest at Stanford University last June, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
The charges relate to an incident on June 5, 2024, when protesters gained unauthorized access to Building 10, which houses the university president’s office. The group, comprised of individuals aged 19 to 32, reportedly broke into the building around 5:30 a.m., spray-painted its exterior, and shattered a window.
The DA’s Office detailed the following actions by the accused:
- Breaking windows and damaging furniture
- Splashing fake blood on surfaces
- Disabling security cameras
Damage is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The group barricaded themselves inside, using ladders, furniture, and other equipment. Prior to the camera disablement, video footage captured suspects carrying items into Building 10 and erecting barriers. Inside, protesters recorded social media videos outlining a series of demands related to university divestment from companies with ties to Israel, mirroring similar demonstrations that occurred across U.S. campuses in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Stanford University Department of Public Safety responded to the situation and secured assistance from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and the Palo Alto Police Department. By approximately 7:00 a.m., officers successfully breached the barricades, leading to the arrest of 13 individuals, including some current and former Stanford students.
The damage included offices, door frames, furniture, and graffiti featuring phrases such as “Kill cops,” “Burn this s— down,” and “Death to Israel,” alongside chants of “Palestine will be free, we will free Palestine.”
Recovered backpacks contained tools used for forcible entry, including an electric grinder, hammers, crowbars, chisels, screwdrivers, goggles, straps, and cables. Furthermore, cellphones seized from the arrested individuals revealed encrypted text messages and links to detailed operational plans suggesting pre-planning of the takeover.
Prosecutors allege that communication between the suspects indicated multiple meetings held days prior to the incident to conspire and take over the building.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen stated, “Dissent is American. Vandalism is criminal. There is a bright line between making a point and committing a crime. These defendants crossed the line into criminality when they broke into those offices, barricaded themselves inside, and started a calculated plan of destruction.”
Among recovered materials was a “Do-It-Yourself Occupation Guide,” which included justification for vandalism: “Vandalism? Occupying a space removes the space from the capitalist landscape. A group may decide it is better to destroy or vandalize a space than to return it to its usual role in good condition. The role of vandalism may be different in each situation, but it should not be disowned outright.”
A student journalist who had been embedded with the protesters—but did not participate in the vandalism—was not charged.
Each of the twelve accused individuals faces felony charges of vandalism and conspiracy to trespass. They are scheduled for arraignment later this month at the Hall of Justice in San Jose, where they could face incarceration and restitution if convicted.
