STANFORD, Calif. — Stanford University said 13 people were arrested as law enforcement removed pro-Palestinian demonstrators who occupied a campus building early Wednesday that houses the university president and provost offices, with the school saying there was damage inside and outside the building.
The takeover began near dawn on the last day of classes for the spring quarter. Some protesters barricaded themselves inside while other linked arms outside, The Stanford Daily reported. The group chanted “Palestine will be free, we will free Palestine.”
The student newspaper said one of its reporters was among those detained.
Within about two hours, officers had broken into the building and began taking people into custody.
“Law enforcement has arrested 13 individuals, and the building has been cleared,” university spokesperson Dee Mostofi said in an email to The Associated Press, saying later that, “A public safety officer was injured after being shoved by protesters who were interfering with a transport vehicle.
“There has been extensive damage to the interior and exterior of the building,” Mostofi said. “No other campus operations have been affected at this time.”
Stanford is among colleges and universities around the country where campus protests have occurred to demand their schools separate themselves from companies advancing Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza and in some cases from Israel itself.
Columbia University agreed to take additional steps to make students feel secure on campus under a settlement reached with a Jewish student Tuesday.
The Associated Press has recorded at least 86 incidents since April 18 where arrests were made at campus protests across the U.S. More than 3,130 people have been arrested on the campuses of 65 colleges and universities. The figures are based on AP reporting and statements from universities and law enforcement agencies.
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Associated Press journalist Christopher L. Keller in Albuquerque, New Mexico, contributed to this report.
Several pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested recently for occupying the office of Stanford University’s president, Marc Tessier-Lavigne. The protesters were demanding that the university divest from companies that they believe are complicit in human rights violations against Palestinians.
The occupation began on Monday morning when a group of students and community members entered Tessier-Lavigne’s office and refused to leave. They hung banners and chanted slogans calling for justice for Palestinians and an end to the university’s investments in companies such as Caterpillar, which they claim supply equipment used in the demolition of Palestinian homes.
The protesters argued that Stanford’s investments in these companies are tantamount to supporting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and the violation of Palestinian human rights. They called on the university to take a stand against these injustices and divest from any companies that profit from the oppression of Palestinians.
After several hours of occupying the office, police were called to the scene and began arresting the demonstrators. In total, 12 people were taken into custody and charged with trespassing and disturbing the peace.
Stanford University released a statement following the incident, affirming its commitment to free speech and peaceful protest but also stating that it does not condone illegal actions that disrupt university operations. The university also defended its investment practices, stating that its endowment is managed in accordance with ethical guidelines and that decisions on divestment are made based on careful consideration of all factors.
The incident has sparked a debate on campus about the role of universities in addressing social justice issues and the ethics of investment practices. Some students and faculty members have expressed support for the protesters, arguing that universities have a responsibility to use their financial resources to promote human rights and social justice. Others have criticized the occupation as disruptive and counterproductive, calling for dialogue and engagement with university administrators rather than confrontational tactics.
Overall, the occupation of Stanford’s president’s office by pro-Palestinian demonstrators has brought attention to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the role that universities play in shaping global politics. It remains to be seen how Stanford will respond to the demands of the protesters and whether this incident will lead to any changes in the university’s investment practices.
