Five pro-Palestine Stanford University protesters will no longer face felony charges under a pretrial diversion agreement reached Monday with California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Instead, the students will pay Stanford $51,973, a far lower amount than the initially estimated $360,000 to $1 million in damages, and will each complete 100 hours of community service.
The case dates back to 2024, when pro-Palestine protests rocked college campuses nationwide as Israel escalated its campaign against Gaza after Hamas terrorists launched an attack on Israel in October 2023.
At Stanford University, the protests culminated in a break-in at the university president’s office by eight undergraduates, three Stanford graduates and an outsider on the last day of classes.
Students and activists wanted to pressure the university to divest its endowment funds from companies tied to the Israeli government.
Last year, the twelve people were charged with felony vandalism and felony conspiracy to trespass. Prosecutors accused the demonstrators of spray-painting on the building, breaking windows and furniture, disabling security cameras and splattering a red liquid described as fake blood on items throughout the building.
They used furniture to barricade themselves in, prosecutors said.
Three of the defendants settled their cases before trial and four entered into diversion programs. The last five defendants faced up to three years in prison, but a trial ended in a mistrial after the jury could not agree to convict.
Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen had wanted to retry the case, but a judge instead handed the case to Bonta after concerns were raised that Rosen was fundraising off the matter.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Bay Area and Jewish Silicon Valley said in a joint statement that the plea deal “sends the troubling message that politically motivated destruction of property carries minimal legal consequences.”
They also noted that the announcement came on Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish religious calendar.
“That a hearing so closely connected to debates over rising antisemitism was made inaccessible to many in the Jewish community demonstrates a lack of sensitivity and cultural competency,” the statement read.
“We will continue to defend both the right to free speech and the principle that vandalism, intimidation, and harassment are not protected forms of protest. In a democracy, vigorous disagreement can flourish without allowing political causes to excuse unlawful conduct,” the groups continued.
Bonta’s office said in a statement the new agreement brings accountability.
“This resolution requires the defendants to make amends to the community for their actions through extensive community service and ensures they fully reimburse Stanford for all repairs,” his office said. The reduced charges serve “the best interests of the community and all parties involved.”
The office noted it worked with Stanford to get a “complete and accurate accounting” of the cost to repair the damages.
A spokesperson for the university told the San Francisco Chronicle it would not challenge the outcome and that “we respect the integrity of our justice system.”
Amy Zhai, one of the defendants, told ABC7 that she was relieved and argued the court case would lead to more support for Palestine.
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