In a recent development, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office pressed charges against twelve individuals for their involvement in a disturbance at Stanford University. The incident involved breaking into a campus building, barricading themselves inside, and causing damage to administrative offices during a protest against Israel held at the elite Northern California school in June.
According to prosecutors, the group of masked individuals, aged between 19 and 32, reportedly engaged in activities such as breaking windows and furniture, spreading fake blood, and tampering with security cameras.
There was allegedly hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage, according to a news release from the district attorney’s office.
Students examine graffiti near the office of the president at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., on June 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
Upon investigating the scene, authorities found protesters’ backpacks containing tools used for forcible entry, including items like an electric grinder, hammers, crowbars, chisels, screwdrivers, goggles, as well as various straps and cables.
Cellphones recovered from those who were arrested showed encrypted text messages and links to detailed operational plans, according to officials.
Prosecutors allege the communication “indicated the suspects met on multiple occasions, days in advance, to conspire to take over the building,” according to the release.
A campus maintenance worker carries a broken window from the office of the president at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
“Dissent is American. Vandalism is criminal,” said District Attorney Jeff Rosen. “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.”
A “DO-IT-YOURSELF OCCUPATION GUIDE” shared in the communication stated, “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 embedded with the protesters but did not participate in the vandalism, was not charged.
Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz contributed to this report.
