At least 13 anti-Israel protesters were arrested at Stanford University on Wednesday when protesters broke into the president’s office and painted hate graffiti across the campus.
The inauguration began around 5:30 a.m. on the last day of spring quarter classes, as protesters barricaded themselves inside while others linked arms outside chanting “Palestine will be free, we will free Palestine.”
The university said protesters caused “significant damage” to campus buildings.
Photos posted on social media showed ‘F*** Amerikkka’ spray painted on a memorial to soldiers killed in the Spanish-American War.
In a post on Instagram, the group Liberate Stanford said an “autonomous group of students” had occupied the office of university president Richard Saller.
At least 13 anti-Israel protesters were arrested at Stanford University when protesters broke into the president’s office.
Photos of the damaged campus posted on social media show ‘F*** Amerikkka’ was spray painted on a memorial to soldiers killed in the Spanish-American War.
Students have called on the school to divest from companies linked to Israel’s war in Gaza, among other demands.
A video posted by the National Students for Justice in Palestine showed an activist wearing a mask, glasses and a keffiyeh who says the group refused to leave until the school disbands and reveals its investments for the 2022 financial year and grants amnesty to all student protesters.
Police used a crowbar to enter the building about two hours after the demonstration began, according to the Stanford Daily.
Within about two hours, officers stormed the building and began detaining people.
“Police arrested 13 people and the building was cleared,” said university spokesman Dee Mostofi.
Students occupied the university’s rectorate demanding that the school divest from companies linked to Israel’s war in Gaza.
Police used a crowbar to enter the building about two hours after the demonstration began.
‘A public security agent was injured after being pushed by protesters who were blocking 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.”
The university said 13 people and the school newspaper were arrested, the Stanford Daily reported. One of his journalists was among those detained.
Stanford is among many colleges and universities across the country where pro-Palestinian campus protests have been held.
Within about two hours, officers stormed the building and began detaining people.
Some protesters barricaded themselves inside, while others linked arms outside chanting “Palestine will be free, we will free Palestine.”
In May, someone at the Stanford camp was photographed wearing the same green headband sported by Hamas terrorist fighters in Gaza.
In addition to the headband, they wore a mask, glasses, a keffiyeh over her shoulders and looks at a phone, looking away from the camera.
RRepresentatives of the institution issued the following statement about the photo: ‘We have received many expressions of concern about a photograph circulating on social media of an individual in White Square who appeared to be wearing a green headband similar to those worn by members of Hamas. .
‘We find this deeply disturbing, as the United States government designates Hamas as a terrorist organization. We have not been able to identify the individual, but we have sent the photograph to the FBI.’