Five Stanford students stand trial for vandalizing the president’s office during a 2024 pro-Palestinian protest.

A trial began in January 2026 in Santa Clara County for five current and former Stanford students accused of occupying the university president’s office during a pro-Palestinian protest on June 5, 2024. The protest, part of a nationwide wave of campus demonstrations, involved barricading the office, spray-painting, breaking windows and furniture, disabling security cameras, and splattering a red liquid described as fake blood. Authorities arrested 12 people, with 11 facing felony charges of vandalism and conspiracy to trespass. One defendant pleaded no contest under a youth diversion agreement and testified for the prosecution, while six others accepted plea deals or diversion programs. The five on trial pleaded not guilty, asserting their right to a jury trial, with defense attorneys demanding prosecutors prove intent and planning. Stanford seeks $329,000 in restitution, and prosecutors emphasized that while speech is protected, vandalism is not. The incident reflects a broader 2024 trend of campus protests over the Israel-Gaza conflict, which led to about 3,200 arrests nationwide, though most charges were later dismissed.