SAN FRANCISCO – The trial for five current and former Stanford University students began on Friday, marking a rare legal proceeding stemming from a 2024 campus protest. These individuals occupied the university president’s offices during a pro-Palestinian demonstration.

The incident led to the arrest of 12 people, who had barricaded themselves inside the offices of both the president and provost on June 5, 2024. This protest coincided with the final day of spring classes at the prestigious Silicon Valley-based institution.

Among the defendants, a 21-year-old male opted for a no-contest plea. This plea is part of a program allowing young offenders to potentially have their cases dismissed and records expunged following successful completion of probation. His testimony was pivotal in securing a grand jury indictment in October against the remaining 11 individuals, who faced charges of felony vandalism and felony conspiracy to trespass.

Six out of these 11 reached pretrial agreements or entered diversion programs. However, the five students now on trial have entered pleas of not guilty.

The prosecution alleges that the protesters caused significant damage by spray-painting the building, breaking windows and furniture, disabling security cameras, and spreading a red liquid, purportedly fake blood, throughout the offices. As a result, the university is pursuing $329,000 in restitution.

Avi Singh, an attorney representing Stanford student Germán González, said González decided to exercise his right to a jury trial.

“Germán González and the other four defendants are exercising their constitutional right to have a jury trial, and demand the district attorney prove everything that is required for a conviction,” including whether they planned to trespass and what their intent was, he said.

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said last year when announcing his decision to charge the group that the protesters went too far when they damaged the building.

“Speech is protected by the First Amendment. Vandalism is prosecuted under the penal code,” he said.

Protests sprung up on university campuses across the U.S. with students setting up camps and demanding their universities stop doing business with Israel or companies that support its war efforts against Gaza.

About 3,200 people were arrested in 2024 nationwide. While some colleges ended demonstrations by striking deals with the students, or simply waited them out, others called in police when protesters refused to leave. Most of the charges were dismissed.