In June of 2024, 12 Stanford students occupied a university building, demanding that Stanford University divest from companies, such as Palantir, linked to Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. This occurred alongside a vast country-wide movement on many university campuses calling for their own schools to divest from Israel. During the Stanford students’ occupation, University officials claimed that students allegedly caused $300,000 – $1 million in damages, leading to felony vandalism and felony conspiracy to trespass charges. The students claimed that the monetary value of the damage was an “exaggeration.” 11 out of the 12 students were arrested and charged.
The prosecutors pushed to bring the case to a grand jury after delays in scheduling preliminary hearings. The grand jury decided to indict the 11 Stanford students on the felony and vandalism charges. Bringing the case to the grand jury allows for the prosecutors to bypass preliminary hearings, which are held to determine if a case has enough evidence to warrant a trial.
This push to bring the case to trial comes at a time when universities across the country are cracking down on their students for Pro-Palestine activism. Stanford University shows which side of history they are on, wanting to make an example of the 11 students to universities across the nation. The University president even claimed that Stanford’s “purpose is not political action or social justice.” In addition to that, Stanford administration has offered zero protections or assistance for the students, showing their support for the charges, or complete indifference at best.
Other universities have also taken austere measures to punish their students. Recently, UC Berkeley handed over the names of 160 students, faculty, and staff members that participated in Palestine demonstrations. By cracking down on their own students for protesting a genocide, these universities are totally complicit in continuing the devastation in Gaza.This suppression of Palestine activism at universities is not the only austerity we see. It comes alongside the Trump administration declaring anti-capitalist and “anti-American” views as domestic terrorism. This is a fear tactic, discouraging the population from challenging injustice in our world. We must continue to talk about and show up for Palestine — in ways that don’t jeopardize our own safety. Our voices are stronger and safer when we unite together, so let’s make sure they can hear us.
