Stanford students join nationwide pro-Palestine protests
(KRON) — Students at Stanford University are now joining nationwide protests showing their support for Palestine and calling for the university to stop any financial aid to Israel. As has occurred at UC Berkeley and other campuses, Stanford students have begun erecting tents on campus.
At Stanford’s White Memorial Plaza, students have set up about 25 tents. You can see tables, food, and signs showing their commitment to staying there. The students are joining multiple campuses in the U.S. in a national call for ceasefire.
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On Friday afternoon at Stanford, the mood was relaxed with music playing inside what’s being called “The People’s University for Gaza.” Around 25 tents have been set up by students at Stanford University to protest the war in Gaza.
“They don’t have working universities, they don’t have working hospitals, people are undergoing operations without anesthetics because they just have to make do with what little resources they have,” said Stanford senior Nani Santos.
The tents went up after hundreds gathered for a rally at the university on Thursday afternoon. One of the organizers, Yungsu Kim, said demonstrators are asking the university to disclose any investments that aid Israel in the war.
“They are basically asking us to make specific targeted asks for divestment without revealing any of the information that will make it even possible to make a possible ask,” said Kim.
According to the university, around 60 students camping out at White Memorial Plaza were handed signed letters Thursday night notifying them that tents and overnight camping violate university policy.
A statement from Stanford University President Richard Saller read in part:
“These letters informed students that failure to cease conduct in violation of university policy would result in a referral to the Office of Community Standards student conduct process and also could result in arrest if laws are violated.”
The students were also warned that their participation could result in suspension. Arrests have been made at other university protests. But students at Stanford say they plan to stay at the newly formed camping state until their requests are met.
“Heightened presence of police on campus. So already just by doing that the university is attempting to intimidate students from speaking out against specific universities,” said Kim.
Several sheriff’s vehicles were visible parked on campus and driving around the area on Friday. There’s also campus security set up at White Memorial Plaza. They weren’t seen interacting with demonstrators and appeared to be merely monitoring the situation.
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