13 people arrested, one officer injured after protesters barricade inside Stanford president's office – NBC Bay Area

At least 13 people were arrested and a public safety officer was injured after a group of Stanford students and alumni barricaded themselves inside the university president's office early Wednesday morning , according to university and law enforcement officials.

The group was protesting the institute's response to pro-Palestinian protesters' demands regarding the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, organizers said.

The university said the injured police officer was shoved by protesters who were obstructing a transport vehicle. He did not provide the police officer's state of health. The building suffered extensive damage inside and out, authorities said.

“We are dismayed that our students have chosen to take this action and will work with law enforcement to ensure they face every consequence permitted by law,” the university said in a statement. “All arrested students will be immediately suspended and if any of them are seniors, they will not be allowed to graduate.”

According to the Stanford for Palestine group, students and alumni locked themselves in Stanford President Richard Saller's office around 5:30 a.m.

The protesters said they refused to leave Saller's office until the Stanford administration and the Stanford Board of Trustees took action to address “their role in carrying out and profiting from the genocide in classes in Gaza.”

Stanford for Palestine said the university refused to negotiate with pro-Palestinian advocates over concerns about Gaza. Protesters accused Stanford University of “holding multimillion-dollar investments in companies that provide material and logistical support to the current Israeli military” in the armed conflict in Gaza.

“Stanford students have repeatedly attempted to engage with the administration through protests. Since October 2023, more than 20 rallies have taken place, with undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, and faculty coming together to demand that Stanford honor its commitment to human rights. the administration refused,” the group said in a statement. “The University is profiting from the genocide of the Palestinians as we speak, and we refuse to be silenced.”

Stanford's full statement Wednesday morning in response to the protest:

“This morning, a group of individuals illegally entered Building 10, which houses the offices of the president and provost. Law enforcement arrested 13 people and the building was evacuated. A public safety officer was injured after being pushed by protesters who obstructed a transport vehicle. There was extensive damage inside Building 10 and outside the quad buildings.

“We are dismayed that our students have chosen to take this action and we will work with law enforcement to ensure they face every consequence permitted by the law. Any students arrested will be immediately suspended and if any If one of them is a senior, he will not be allowed to graduate.

“We have always emphasized the need for constructive engagement and peaceful protest when disagreements arise. This was not a peaceful protest and actions such as those this morning have no place in Stanford We ask anyone with information regarding this action to contact the Stanford Department of Public Safety at 650-329-2413.”