The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the declaration of a mistrial in the Stanford 11 case.
SEE: Stanford 11 Verdict Press Release
After weeks of jury deliberations, a Santa Clara County judge declared a mistrial after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The Stanford 11 are a group of students who were criminally indicted for demanding their university stop funding the genocide in Gaza.
In a statement, Stanford 11 Germán González said:
“We knew that taking action for Palestine meant risking something and understood that we were situated in a longer lineage of struggle. Despite the prosecution’s efforts, our solidarity with Palestine remains unshaken, and we will keep fighting for justice. The Bay Area’s powerful legacy of protest and activism must continue on.”
CAIR-SFBA Civil Rights Coordinator Hibah Hammoudeh added:
“We’re ecstatic to see District Attorney Rosen’s attempt to punish student protesters fail. Civil disobedience has always been at the forefront of movements demanding change. Historically, student movements have repeatedly shown that students are fearless and will challenge human rights atrocities, and the genocide in Gaza is no exception. We urge the District Attorney to acknowledge his utter failure in this political prosecution, refrain from retrying this outrageous case, and prioritize accountability for real violence and misconduct, rather than criminalizing protest.”
The Stanford 11 now face a second jury trial. Their next court date is on Feb. 25 at 1:30 p.m. at the Santa Clara County Superior Court, Hall of Justice (Department 24).
CAIR-SFBA encourages community members to call District Attorney Rosen’s office at (408) 299-3099 to demand an end to the political persecution of student protesters.
CAIR-SFBA is an office of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-SFBA Communications Manager Lorrie Adam, (408) 498-5779, [email protected]