SEATTLE — It’s been a day since activists caused chaos in front of and inside the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building.
A group dressed in all black clothing set dumpsters on fire and vandalized school property.
Some students on Tuesday told KOMO News they were pleased the university released a statement that it will not be intimidated by what it’s calling “offensive and destructive behavior.”
Others had no idea what took place, and they were concerned that a group had taken over a school building for over six hours. They told KOMO News it reminded them of the 2024 pro-Palestinian encampment that lasted for weeks on the Quad.
FROM 2024 | PRO-PALESTINIAN ENCAMPMENT IN UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON QUAD
“I was kind of surprised they were setting fires to things,” UW Sophomore Kyle Chang said about the Monday night protest. “I didn’t know they were vandalizing inside the building. I’ve heard of the calls to cut ties with Boeing before. It’s similar to the protests from last year.”
Chang added that his classmates talked about the demonstration in the hours after state troopers and Seattle Police Department (SPD) took 31 activists into custody for trespassing into the Boeing-funded engineering building, plus property destruction and disorderly conduct.
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UW, in a statement, writes it’s “committed to maintaining a secure learning and research environment and strongly condemns this illegal building occupation and the anti-Semitic statement issued by a suspended student group.”
Click here to read the full statement.
“Are you happy with the university’s response?” KOMO News’ Jackie Kent asked.
“Yeah, I think they said what needed to be said,” Chang responded.
“I think as soon as, like, violence or any destruction of property starts to happen, that’s when authorities, the proper authority, step in,” mechanical engineering student Archit Singh stated.
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The American Jewish Committee (AJC) explained it was pleased with the university’s quick response to address the demonstration.
“There’s very little distinction between the anti-Israel antics and anti-Semitism. One rolls right into the other,” AJC Regional Director Regina Sassoon Friedland explained. “We’re glad the university did the right thing.”
Moving forward, the AJC said it’s heard from students, parents, and faculty who want to see any students involved in Monday’s demonstration held accountable in the form of suspensions or expulsions.
The AJC added that it also wants the activists to be held accountable in court. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is waiting on SPD to refer the cases before charges can be filed.
