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The Student Press Law Center, alongside the First Amendment Coalition and 24 other free speech and press organizations, called for charges to be declined against The Stanford Daily reporter arrested June 5 while covering a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Stanford University.
As The Daily and the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker explained, police arrested journalist Dilan Gohill, 19, a first-year student who covers campus activism for The Daily, along with 12 protesters in response to a protest and occupation of the Stanford president’s office. Gohill was held in jail for 15 hours and faces charges of felony burglary, vandalism and conspiracy.
In a letter sent today to Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen, the organizations requested his office decline to pursue charges against Gohill, who was present to cover a newsworthy event on behalf of The Daily and did not plan or participate in the protest.
“Based on the circumstances and absence of any criminal motivation, we urge your office to avoid expending significant resources prosecuting a young journalist who was acting in good faith to serve the public’s interest in timely coverage of newsworthy events,” the letter stated.
The Student Press Law Center (splc.org) is a nonpartisan nonprofit that promotes, supports and defends the free press rights of student journalists and their advisers. SPLC provides information, training and legal assistance at no charge to high school and college student journalists and the educators who work with them.