Twelve Charged in Stanford Pro-Palestinian Protest Over Vandalism and Trespassing

Santa Clara County prosecutors have filed felony charges against protesters who organized a break-in at Stanford's administration building, citing extensive property damage and premeditated actions.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office charged 12 individuals with felony vandalism and felony conspiracy to trespass for their actions during a June 5, 2024 protest at Stanford University.
Protesters broke into the university president's office, causing property damage estimated between $250,000 and $700,000, including broken windows, graffiti, and fake blood splattered on personal belongings.
Evidence revealed the protest was meticulously planned, with encrypted communications, operational guides, and tools like crowbars and electric grinders found in the protesters' possession.
A student journalist embedded with the group, Dilan Gohill, was arrested but has since been cleared of charges, underscoring protections for press coverage of such events.
The legal proceedings highlight ongoing debates about the boundaries between free speech and criminal conduct in politically charged campus protests.

San Francisco Chronicle