Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Rally or protest
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Left wing -
Incident Responses:
Other Law Enforcement
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
California prosecutors have declined to pursue felony charges of burglary, vandalism, and conspiracy against Dilan Gohill, the Stanford Daily freshman reporter arrested last June while covering a pre‑dawn occupation of the university president’s office. District Attorney Jeff Rosen noted there is no evidence Gohill did anything beyond reporting, and although the review of the twelve other arrested protesters continues, Gohill’s case is closed. Gohill, who spent twelve hours in jail on $20,000 bail, applauded the decision as a vindication of journalism, while his attorney criticized the delay and Stanford’s Department of Public Safety for its slow referral. Stanford initially urged prosecution but later softened its stance—its new president took no position, and the university dropped its internal disciplinary action in January—respecting the DA’s conclusion that Gohill acted as a journalist, not a protester.
