Cal Poly vandalism suspects were arrested at previous pro-Palestine protests
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Two suspects in Cal Poly vandalism were previously arrested at protests in 2024.
- Suspected felony charges include vandalism and conspiracy; three other suspects unnamed.
- University president condemned actions, reaffirming zero-tolerance policy for violence.
The two pro-Palestine protesters who were arrested after allegedly vandalizing Cal Poly’s administration building on Wednesday were also arrested at previous protests against the war in Gaza, court records show.
Alejandro Bupara, 30, and Theodore Lee, 22, were both arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism greater than $400, felony criminal conspiracy, misdemeanor wearing a mask to evade or conceal their identities in the commission of a public offense, and an additional unlisted charge, according to the San Luis Obispo County Jail’s booking log.
Both were no longer in jail custody as of Thursday morning, the Sheriff’s Office inmate databases showed.
According to an email sent to the Cal Poly campus community from Cal Poly president Jeffrey Armstrong, a group of five individuals entered the university’s Financial Aid and Student Accounts office in the Administration Building and spray-painted graffiti on walls, windows, furniture, computers, carpets and floors on Wednesday afternoon.
“Thankfully, no one was physically harmed in the incident, but it was traumatizing for numerous Cal Poly employees and students who were in the office at the time,” Armstrong’s statement read.
Cal Poly spokesperson Matt Lazier told The Tribune the graffiti read “Free Palestine,” “Free Gaza,” “Cal Poly Divest,” and “Let Gaza Live.”
Bupara and Lee appear to be two of the five suspects, while three have not yet been identified by the university at this time.
Neither Bupara or Lee have been formally charged with any crimes in relation to the incident as of Thursday, court records show.
Armstrong asked anyone with information related to the incident, including the identities of those responsible, photos, videos or otherwise, to contact the Cal Poly police at 805-756-2281.
Not first time protesters have been arrested at Cal Poly
Two other Pro-Palestinian protests at Cal Poly ended in arrests in 2024. Bupara was arrested at both, and Lee was arrested once.
On Jan. 23, 2024, Bupara was among eight protesters who were arrested after they attempted to break into Cal Poly’s Recreation Center during a career fair to protest defense contractors with connections to the Israeli military. The total number of protesters at the event was around 20.
Video showed several protesters carrying large wooden signs shaped like riot shields tugging on metal barricades placed in front of the entrance to the campus building as a pair of officers held the other ends of the barriers.
At one point more officers ran up to the group, and a shout of “get on the ground” could be heard. An officer then appeared to throw one of the protesters to the ground, tackling the person and hitting them several times.
The San Luis Obispo Police Department found the officer did not violate the agency’s use of force policy.
That following March, Bupara was ultimately charged with four misdemeanor counts of battery on a peace officer in relation to the protest. He pleaded not guilty to the crimes and has a court hearing scheduled for June 17.
Bupara was arrested again while protesting against Isreal’s attacks in Gaza and Cal Poly’s investment in companies that support and profit from the war on May 23, 2024. He and Lee were among six protesters arrested after using wooden barricades to block an entrance to Cal Poly in the crosswalk of California Boulevard and Campus Way.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, the San Luis Obispo Police Department and Cal Poly police responded to the demonstration. At least 20 police vehicles were on the scene, and officers blocked vehicle traffic from entering the intersection. About 30 people participated in the protest, witnesses told The Tribune.
Bupara was charged with misdemeanor unlawful assembly, misdemeanor obstructing free movement in a public place and misdemeanor remaining at the scene of a riot after lawful warning to disperse in relation to the May protest.
He had not entered a plea to the charges as of Thursday, court records show, but his next court date in the case is also June 17.
Lee was charged with misdemeanor unlawful assembly and misdemeanor obstructing free movement in a public place.
Court records show Lee was granted misdemeanor diversion in December, meaning if he complied with certain parameters set by the judge — including obeying all laws — the charges would be dismissed from his record.
His next court hearing to determine whether he successfully completed the diversion program is scheduled for Dec. 3.
San Luis Obispo County Assistant District Attorney Eric Dobroth told The Tribune that violating the law would be a violation of misdemeanor diversion, but it is up to the judge to decide whether the violation warrants revoking diversion and restarting criminal proceedings.
According to previous Tribune reporting, Bupara was an engineering major at Cal Poly in 2019 and advocated for Cal Poly to enroll more diverse students. Lazier confirmed Lee is a current mathematics student at the university.
Lee’s LinkedIn profile shows he expects to graduate in 2025, but it is unclear whether his graduation would be this quarter, or in the upcoming fall quarter.
Organizations have another protest planned this week
Cal Poly Students for Quality Education and Abolitionist Action Central Coast/SLO posted on Instagram on Monday that Wednesday’s protest would be the last demonstration for Palestine of the school year.
“NO SPRING CELEBRATIONS FOR CAL POLY ADMIN DURING GENOCIDE!!! ONE FINAL SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR PALESTINE!!” the post read, adding “Mask up, protect each other.”
The post asked students to meet at the Grand Avenue entrance of the university at 11 a.m. It accused Cal Poly administrators of celebrating the end of the school year “while the Holocaust they enable continues.”
The post did not mention any plans to vandalize the inside or outside of any campus buildings.
The organization claimed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to Israel’s attacks occurred with “direct participation of Cal Poly Admin, Partners and Foundation via investments, career services partnerships, repression of student and faculty protesters and more.”
It also claims Cal Poly administrators have refused to listen to the protesters’ demands to divest from organizations and companies that “contribute to the genocide.”
The post also said the organizations plan to march for Palestine on Saturday. The “March for a Free Palestine” is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Santa Rosa Park.
An additional student and community meeting regarding Palestine is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m., but that location was not yet determined, according to the post.
Abolitionist Action and Cal Poly Social Justice Coalition posted requests for donations to a bail fund for those arrested in relation to Wednesday’s protest.
“Two local activists have been arrested protesting for a free Palestine. Please donate to help support their release!” one of the captions said.
Donations can be sent via Venmo to @SLOBailFund.
Cal Poly president condemns vandalism
In a letter to the Cal Poly community following the incident, Armstrong said the university has “zero-tolerance” for the individual’s behavior.
“I want to be very clear that there is no room at Cal Poly for this kind of behavior and activity,” Armstrong said. “We will not stand for illegal attacks against our institution, its employees and its students.”
He said those participating in violence and criminal activity that endangers others will be expelled, if they are students, arrested and “held fully accountable.”
“Anyone who views this kind of shortsighted, disgusting and illegal activity as acceptable has no place at Cal Poly and will be rooted out,” he said.
Armstrong’s firm statement comes about a month after he testified before Congress about antisemitism on Cal Poly’s campus. Armstrong left the lengthy hearing generally unscathed compared to the other university presidents called to testify, from DePaul University and Haverford College.
Both DePaul and Haverford appeared to have had more substantial incidents of antisemitism than Cal Poly at the time of the hearing.
Cal Poly was previously vandalized on Halloween with anti-Israel graffiti on multiple Cal Poly buildings and a sign on the Grand Avenue entrance to campus. Lazier told The Tribune no suspects had been identified relating to the incident.
Cal Poly English professor Shanae Aurora Martinez is also facing suspension for her participation in the two 2024 protests that ended in arrests. Martinez was not arrested at either protest and told The Tribune their goal was to protect students’ safety and their right to protest.
This story was originally published June 5, 2025 at 2:34 PM.
