The Santa Clara County District Attorney has opted not to press charges against a Stanford University student journalist involved in a protest barricade incident last year. The journalist, working for the student-run Stanford Daily, was embedded with protesters during an occupation of a campus building when the events unfolded, as reported by the Santa Clara County DA's Office.
Santa Clara County DA Jeff Rosen, emphasizing the distinction between the rollicking journalists and overtly disruptive protesters, noted, "This Office supports a free press and recognizes that the law gives reporters latitude to do their jobs in keeping the public informed." He continued, as per the Santa Clara County DA's Office, "We have no evidence that this student did anything other than cover this event as a journalist." These words were in stark contrast to the actions of some students who, during the protest, damaged furniture and smeared fake blood.
The early morning of June 5, 2024, saw masked protesters forcibly entering Building 10 at 450 Jane Stanford Way, where they proceeded to barricade themselves inside along with the reporter. Stanford's president's office within the compromised building became the center of protestors' fervor as they streamed videos and aired their demands live on social media. Despite participating in drafting a published story from inside the barricade, the DA has found no wrongdoing on the part of the student journalist.
The response from authorities was swift as the Stanford University Department of Public Safety, backed by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and the Palo Alto Police Department, arrived to thwart the protester's occupation. Officers, breaking through barricades to reach the protesters, arrested the group, which had caused significant damage to the building. According to Stanford University, the rehabilitation of the property, marred with broken doorframes and splattered with fake blood, has been pegged at an excess of $700,000.
The District Attorney's Office is still sifting through evidence to determine the fate of the other students involved in the protest. Once their review is completed, decisions on bringing criminal charges forward will be revealed.
