Pro-Palestinian protesters barricaded themselves inside the Stanford University President's Office early Wednesday morning, demanding that university officials meet several demands, including a vote by the university's Board of Trustees to divest from companies that they say support the Israeli military.
According to a Stanford University spokesperson and a public safety liaison, protesters entered Building 10, which houses the offices of university President Richard Salah and Vice President Jenny Martinez, around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. University police officers arrived on the scene after receiving a report of the occupation.
Spokesman Dee Mostofi said police were “assessing the situation” and that the occupation was not affecting other campus operations.
Wednesday was the last day of classes for the spring semester at Stanford University, where pro-Palestinian protesters set up an encampment on campus in late April.
A protest group calling itself the Palestinian People's University Camp said in a statement that its members would remain in Building 10 until the university meets several demands. The group called on Stanford's board of trustees to consider next week whether to divest from companies including Hewlett-Packard, Lockheed Martin and Chevron, which protesters say provide material and logistical support to Israeli military operations in Gaza.
Protesters are also calling on Dr Salah to support divestment proposals, disclose all of his Stanford endowment holdings, and reverse all disciplinary action against pro-Palestinian student activists.