Seattle – The University of Washington suspended 21 students involved in a pro-Palestinian demonstration and an occupation of the campus interdisciplinary engineering building earlier this week.
The institution is also being examined by the Federal Task Force to combat anti -Semitism, which examines the university’s subsidies and federal contracts.
The incitement incident occurred on May 5, when pro-Palestinian students occupied the IEB on the campus, reversing it the Shaban al-Dalou building, to protest against university ties with Boeing while the war continues in Gaza.
Photos | Protest damage inside the interdisciplinary engineering building UW
A group dressed in all black clothes, identified as Super Uw, set fire to dumpsters and a vandalized school property, causing more than a million dollars in damages to the IEB.
The pro-Palestinian demonstrators self-written were barricaded inside the brand new interdisciplinary engineering building on campus on Monday evening. The building, which has just opened with a “gentle launch” to students in March, was partly funded with $ 50 million in the Washington State legislature.
Students demanded that the University have broken all links with Boeing, including the return of donations from Boeing and with the exception of the company’s employees to teach or influence the school otherwise while the war continues in Gaza.
Related: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators cause $ 1 million in damage to the UW engineering building, equipment
Previous cover | Pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupy the building of the UW campus, ask Boeing’s divestment
On Tuesday, a teacher led Komo News to the building to show how the doors were removed from the hinges, others were closed, tools for manufacturing machines worth thousands of dollars were broken and broken and a wall paint – with fresh paint and signaling – was degraded. The university has described damage to their CNC machine tools as “extended”.
The UW said the building will be closed until the end of the week, but the building may remain closed for the rest of the school year.
On the day of the demonstration, Super Uw published a manifesto demanding the following:
“We demand: Uw will no longer be an accomplice of the genocide. We demand: that our tuition fees and our research will not be used to finance and feed the genocide. Students have occupied the interdisciplinary engineering building and declared that this building, renamed the Shaban Al-Dalou building will not be used to finance the genocide, but to meet the needs of students and the community.
- Boeing out of the IEB. Reuse the building in a community controlled by the community with a pro-practice education.
- Boeing out of Uw. Stop receiving all donations from Boeing. Return existing donations, financial investments and eliminate all other material links with Boeing. Prohibit Boeing managers and employees from teaching lessons or having an influence on the study program.
- Put an end to expulsion, suspension and any repression and targeted aggression of activism and pro-Palestine activists, in particular the protections so that our student comrades are targeted by the federal government for their immigration status, “he said in part.
After the occupation of the IEB, 34 demonstrators were finally placed in police custody, and UW said that it had caused more than a million dollars to damage to the university interdisciplinary engineering building.
The King County lawyer’s office told Komo News on Tuesday that he was aware of 31 people who had been arrested and reserved in King County prison in connection with the demonstration.
The arrests come in the midst of a repression of the Trump administration against international students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations in American colleges and universities. More than 1,000 students in 160 colleges, universities and university systems saw their visa revoked or their legal status at the end of the end of March, according to a review by the Associated Press of university declarations, correspondence with school officials and judicial files.
Of the 34 individuals, 21 were confirmed as students, according to UW.
Uw, in a statement published on Wednesday, wrote that the 21 students had been suspended and prohibited from all UW campuses.
Related | Dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators arrested after occupying the UW building
An UW representative said the suspensions were based on the affirmation that students’ behavior “could present a danger to the campus community.”
Non -students participants will be prohibited from the Seattle campus.
The university has also condemned anti -Semitism, harassment and discrimination. During the incident, UW said he had maintained communication with the campus and leaders of the Jewish community of Seattle, recognizing their concerns.
On Wednesday, Super Uw published a statement on Instagram saying that they planned to hold a rally on May 8 at 1 p.m. at GERBERDING HALL
The Jewish Federation of the Grand Seattle congratulated the rapid response of the University and the clear denunciation of anti -Semitism.
The university has declared its compliance with title VI and other federal laws on civil rights, while also recognizing the need for continuous improvements. Efforts include the appointment of a full -time coordinator of title VI, the improvement of training on the prevention of shared discrimination of ancestors, the revision of policies and the strengthening of links with the Jewish community.
In addition, the University said it has improved reporting and response to bias incidents and consolidated anti-discrimination compliance with a new civil rights office.
In March, the Board of Regents rejected a proposal to assign companies related to Israel.
