A dozen people have been charged for breaking into a building at Stanford University during a protest last June. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office announced the charges against the group, aged between 19 and 32, who allegedly vandalized administrative offices in an anti-Israel demonstration.
On June 5, 2024, protests began early in the morning outside Building 10, which contains the university president’s office. Protesters reportedly spray-painted the building and broke a window to gain entry. Once inside, they barricaded themselves using furniture and ladders, covering security cameras in the process.
Authorities claim the group caused extensive damage, estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. They allegedly broke furniture, defaced offices with fake blood, and left graffiti containing violent messages such as "Kill cops" and "Death to Israel." The vandalism was part of a larger series of anti-Israel protests that occurred across U.S. campuses amid ongoing conflict in the region.
The Stanford University Department of Public Safety called for assistance from local law enforcement. By 7 a.m., police were able to breach the barricades and arrested 13 individuals, some of whom were current or former students at Stanford.
Each of the accused faces charges of felony vandalism and felony conspiracy to trespass. They are scheduled to be arraigned later this month in San Jose. If convicted, they could face prison time and be required to pay restitution for the damages.
Investigators found tools for breaking and entering among the protesters’ belongings, including hammers and crowbars. Cellphones recovered from those arrested contained encrypted messages and plans indicating that the group had met multiple times before the protest to coordinate their actions.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen emphasized the difference between lawful protest and criminal behavior, stating that the defendants crossed a line into criminality with their actions. A student journalist who documented the protest but did not participate in the vandalism has not been charged.
This incident has sparked discussions about the boundaries of protest and the impact of such actions on university campuses.