Mistrial Declared in Stanford Students’ Case Following Pro-Palestinian Protests

SAN FRANCISCO — A judge announced a mistrial on Friday in the case involving five Stanford University students charged in connection with pro-Palestinian protests that occurred in June 2024. The protest involved barricading actions in university administrative offices.

The jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision, with votes of 9-3 for felony vandalism and 8-4 for felony conspiracy to trespass. After five days of deliberation, jurors expressed that further deliberation would not help resolve their deadlock.

Judge Hanley Chew declared the jury hopelessly deadlocked and dismissed the jurors. The protest took place on June 5, 2024, coinciding with the last day of spring classes.

This case marked a rare instance of felony charges against demonstrators amid widespread protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict, which resulted in over 3,200 arrests across the nation. During the three-week trial, debates centered around issues of free speech and lawful dissent.

Prosecutors alleged that the defendants vandalized property by spray-painting, breaking windows and furniture, disabling security cameras, and spreading a red liquid described as fake blood. Conversely, defense attorneys argued that the protest was an exercise of protected speech, citing a lack of evidence for intent to damage property.

If convicted, the students faced potential prison sentences of up to three years and restitution exceeding $300,000. Initially, 12 individuals were arrested, with one accepting a plea deal that could lead to a dismissal of charges upon successful probation completion.

This ongoing situation reflects the larger context of protests across campuses related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, with many students advocating for their universities to cease financial ties with Israel.

Overall, this case highlights the tension between activism and legal boundaries in today's politically charged environment.