2025 John S. Knight Journalism Fellows appealed to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office to not pursue charges against Dilan Gohill ’27, a current Daily news editor, who was arrested while covering pro-Palestine protests last June.
Gohill was detained alongside 12 protesters while reporting on the occupation of Building 10 on June 5. On Jan. 20, University President Jon Levin ’94 confirmed in an email to the First Amendment Coalition (FAC) and the Student Press Law Center (SPLC) that Stanford would not pursue internal disciplinary action against Gohill.
In their email to District Attorney (DA) Jeffrey Rosen, the Fellows stated that Gohill’s distinguishable red Daily sweatshirt and press badge, as well as the use of Gohill’s photographs and dispatches in the Daily’s coverage of the demonstrations, show that Gohill was reporting on, not participating in, the protests.
“Gohill… was clearly identified as a working journalist on assignment for The Stanford Daily, documenting a historic event on campus, when he was unjustly arrested,” the Fellows wrote. “At no point could Gohill’s actions be confused with that of a protester.”
Since Gohill’s arrest, free speech organizations, Stanford alumni, the Undergraduate Senate (UGS) and the Graduate Student Council (GSC) have called on the DA not to prosecute Gohill and for the University to support such an action. The UGS passed a joint resolution to this effect on Oct. 9.
“When we think about the level of power dynamics in this space, let’s think about all of his identities,” UGS Deputy Chair Ethan Alfonso ’27 said in a senate meeting. “What we’re advocating for here is not only for Gohill but for all future journalists who are willing to tell the truth and get to the truth.”
According to a written statement to The Daily from Sean Webby, the Director of Communications at the Santa Clara County DA’s Office, the DA must “review the evidence and make a decision” before commenting on Gohill’s case.
The University and Nicholas Rowley, Gohill’s legal counsel, did not respond to a request for comment.
In their email, the Fellows asserted that the uncertainty surrounding Gohill’s case is unjust, calling on the DA to follow the University in clearing Gohill of any possible legal action.
“Stanford University has dropped its internal disciplinary action against Gohill. It’s time the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office takes similar action by clearing the cloud of possible prosecution that is currently hanging over Gohill and announcing no charges will be filed,” the Fellows wrote. “Gohill, who is now a sophomore at Stanford, has already lived with this uncertainty for far too long.”