Police arrested 13 people at Stanford University after pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupied the school president and provost's offices early Wednesday and caused "extensive" vandalism inside and outside the building.
The takeover began around dawn on the last day of spring classes at the university in California's Silicon Valley, and ended three hours later. Some protesters barricaded themselves inside the building while others linked arms outside, The Stanford Daily reported.
Images circulated on social media showed graffiti saying, "Death to Israel," "Pigs taste best dead," "Death to America," "Kill cops," and others.
Sad to see this at Stanford today 😢
University staff are currently taping butcher paper over the vandalism, as it will take careful effort to remove the spray paint from the 135-year-old stone of the Quad. Some damage is permanent, leaving a visible scar. pic.twitter.com/v1OSO532e7
— Steve Jurvetson (@FutureJurvetson) June 5, 2024
Antisemitic protests calling for the destruction of Israel have sprung up on university campuses across the US and Europe as students demand a ceasefire in the Gaza War.
Stanford University is said to have removed a student encampment of Palestinian supporters on Wednesday, which had been set up on campus on April 25, citing public safety concerns and violations of school policies.
"The situation on campus has now crossed the line from peaceful protest to actions that threaten the safety of our community," they said, adding that demonstrators had recently tried to occupy a different building.
One law enforcement officer was lightly injured when he was shoved by protesters interfering with a transport vehicle, university spokesperson Dee Mostofi wrote in an email to The Associated Press. Other campus activities were not affected, she said.
In addition to the damage indoors, the president and provost said there was extensive graffiti on the sandstone buildings and columns of the Main Quad. Video posted on social media showed police busting in a door. Other photos showed an office desk splattered with a red liquid.
