June 6, 2024
2 mins read

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators arrested at Stanford University  

Demonstrators cheered in support of those being arrested as the detainees were escorted out of the building and loaded into law enforcement vehicles…reports Asian Lite News

Police arrested 13 people at Stanford University after pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupied the school president and provost’s offices early Wednesday, causing what officials described as “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. The group chanted “Palestine will be free, we will free Palestine.”

Demonstrators cheered in support of those being arrested as the detainees were escorted out of the building and loaded into law enforcement vehicles.

The student newspaper said one of its reporters was among those detained.

Protest camps have sprung up on university campuses across the U.S. and in Europe as students demand their universities stop doing business with Israel or companies that support its war efforts.

Organizers seek to amplify calls to end Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, which they describe as a genocide against the Palestinians. The top United Nations court has concluded there is a “plausible risk of genocide” in Gaza — a charge Israel strongly denies.

Stanford students who participated in Wednesday’s protest would be immediately suspended, and any seniors would not be allowed to graduate, university President Richard Saller and Provost Jenny Martinez said in a joint statement.

They said the university also 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.

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.

“This graffiti conveys vile and hateful sentiments that we condemn in the strongest terms,” the president and provost said, adding that it remains unclear who graffitied the university.

Sarah Lebaron, a Stanford physics student, said she didn’t think Wednesday’s demonstration and graffiti were an effective way to protest the war in Gaza or question university endowments.

“I think the goal is to have Stanford divest from Israel. That is their stated goal. But I don’t see how these actions necessarily lead to that goal,” Lebaron said.

Columbia University, which was rocked by campus protests earlier this spring, agreed to take additional steps to make students feel secure on campus under a settlement reached with a Jewish student Tuesday.

ALSO READ: ‘Israel ran secret influence campaign targeting US lawmakers’

ALSO READ: Hamas demands full end to Gaza war

Previous Story

‘Israel ran secret influence campaign targeting US lawmakers’

Next Story

Georgia appeals court pauses Trump’s election meddling case

Latest from -Top News

Pakistan Faces Rising Uprisings

Officials warn that Pakistan cannot continue suppressing such protests by force indefinitely. A breaking point, they say, is inevitable — when the growing discontent converges into a major challenge for the establishment

‘A Day to Rejoice’

In its statement, British Friends of Israel saluted the courage and resilience of the hostages and expressed deep sorrow for those who did not survive captivity After 737 days of anguish, the

UK to Lead Gaza Rebuild

PM announces an additional £20 million aid package aimed at providing essential water, sanitation and hygiene services to tens of thousands of people Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended the signing ceremony of

UN Faces Crisis, Says Rajnath

Rajnath Singh said India recognises that the success of peacekeeping depends not only on numbers but on preparedness….reports Asian Lite News Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday highlighted the urgent need for

UK to host summit on Gaza recovery plan

The three-day conference, beginning Monday afternoon, will take place at Wilton Park, the Foreign Office’s policy forum based in West Sussex The UK will host an international summit on the recovery and
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Palestinians Flee as Israeli Airstrikes Pound Northern Gaza

The death toll from airstrikes, already at unprecedented levels, had

Biden says Palestinian state should come via talks

President believes that what is happening in Gaza is not