- University of Washington students postponed their planned solidarity encampment in Gaza because it was not ‘centered’ on enough Muslim and Arab students
- This encampment would have been one of dozens of others across the country, as administrations struggle to respond effectively.
Pro-Palestinian students at the University of Washington announced plans to postpone what was supposed to be Thursday’s Gaza solidarity encampment because too many white students were involved.
The Pacific Northwest group was criticized for not including enough Muslim and Arab students in planning the encampment.
The disruptive protest was scheduled to take place Thursday morning at Seattle University, where the administration told members of the Jewish community that it did not intend to intervene unless “the event was resolved.” aggravates and threatens the safety of people,” according to My Northwest.
Without a significant threat from school leadership, students chose to delay the protest in order to “ensure that this encampment better reflects the UW community and has even greater unity with the Muslim, Palestinian and Arab students.
“We want to be part of a much larger coalition of groups and make no mistake, WE WILL HAVE A UW CAMP!” We want to make sure everyone’s voice is included and that this action is as safe, secure and strong as possible, read an Instagram post from the school’s Progressive Student Union.
University of Washington students postponed their planned solidarity encampment in Gaza because it was not ‘centered’ on enough Muslim and Arab students
Commenters claiming to be students harshly criticized PSU for its failure to effectively organize the protest and recruit enough Muslim and Arab students for the effort in the notoriously white and liberal Seattle area.
“I really hope you make sure you take proper safety precautions this time around and learn what operational safety means. Without prioritizing the safety of all students involved, the action is hollow and reckless,” one user wrote.
“These problems happen repeatedly and reflect badly on you. Please do better and get safety training and put procedures in place.
“What about everyone who wants this to happen as soon as possible? Announcing it and then withdrawing it is irresponsible. You have endangered the people who decide to show up because they didn’t see this slide,” wrote user Bailee McCauley, who apparently remained in favor of continuing with the protest plans, while others advocated for the event to be canceled altogether.
“Please listen to the Palestinian, Arab and Muslim students criticizing this event and cancel it,” wrote a user named Sofie.
A user named Jess Schutz speared the whole effort, writing: “You need to learn basic organizing skills, really, it’s so incredibly opportunistic it’s crazy!” LISTEN to our concerns. listen to Arab and Muslim students. don’t announce actions like this in advance.
“Postponing this event is not enough – let super/uf/uw jvp organize and announce actions like this. your reputation as an organization follows you and it accompanies you in the events you organize and support.
Clearly, this is not the first time the UW PSU has failed to follow the laws of intersectionality when planning an event or protest.
Dozens of protesters removed from UW building as pro-Palestinian demonstrations continue to unfold across the country
Students harshly criticized PSU for its failure to effectively organize the protest and recruit enough Muslim and Arab students to participate in the effort in the notoriously white and liberal Seattle area.
Encampment Columbia, launched last week in New York, sparked similar protests on college campuses across the country, including Yale, Boston and Michigan.
The Washington State campus is another place where progressive students see an opportunity to set up an encampment that will undoubtedly disrupt college life.
On Thursday, students in Austin and SoCal also came to blows with authorities who were ordered to break up the protests.
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