A group of pro-Palestinian protesters caused a stir at Stanford University as they seized the president's office early on Wednesday morning. The incident led to a significant police response, resulting in the arrest of 13 individuals. Stanford has announced that the arrested students will face immediate suspension, with potential consequences for seniors' graduation.

During the protest, a public safety officer was injured after being shoved by demonstrators who were obstructing a transport vehicle. The university also reported "extensive damage" to the interior of Building 10 and external structures within the campus quad.

The university administration expressed dismay over the unruly behavior, stating that they will collaborate with law enforcement to ensure the protesters face the required legal consequences. Stanford President Richard Saller and Provost Jenny Martinez issued a joint statement emphasizing the university's commitment to constructive engagement and peaceful protest, condemning the actions of the demonstrators.

The protesters, mostly comprising students, surrounded Building 10, where President Saller and the provost have their offices, around 5:30 a.m. They made their presence known on social media, claiming to have taken over the president's office until their demands were met.

Images shared on their Instagram account, "liberatestanford," depicted what appeared to be blood or fake blood smeared on photos on the president's desk. A life-like cardboard cutout of Saller was also defaced with red paint, and the word "SHAME" written on it.

Clad in keffiyehs, a traditional Middle Eastern scarf, the protesters shouted "shame, shame" at the police while displaying signs with slogans such as "David and Goliath," "Divest Now," and "Revolution Until Victory."

The protesters claimed that the university had not taken their concerns regarding the Israel-Hamas war seriously. They stated that despite holding 20 rallies since October 7, their demands remained unanswered.

Among their grievances, the protesters highlighted Stanford's investments in corporations, including Hewlett Packard, Lockheed Martin, and Chevron, which they claimed provided support to Israel's military campaign. They demanded that the university divest from these companies, disclose its 2022 finances, including all endowment holdings, and drop disciplinary charges against pro-Palestinian student activists.

Pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses has gained prominence, with UC Santa Cruz also experiencing protests in recent times. Last week, police arrested 80 protesters at UC Santa Cruz for blocking university entrances for several days.

At Stanford, protests and tent encampments have become common as pro-Palestinian activists urge the university to divest from Israel. Last year, an extensive sit-in known as "Sit-in to Stop Genocide" was staged in White Plaza, setting a record for Stanford's longest sit-in. However, the university introduced a camping ban in February due to concerns for student health and safety.

The university administration has yet to respond to the specific demands put forth by the protesters, but this incident marks a new escalation in the ongoing discourse surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on campus.