Dozens of protesters were arrested at the University of Washington after they set dumpsters on fire and occupied a building in a demonstration against Israel and Boeing.
According to a statement from the university, the protesters had “mostly covered” faces and “blocked access to two streets outside the building, blocked entrances and exits to the building and ignited fires in two dumpsters on a street outside.”
“About 30 individuals who occupied the building were arrested and charges of trespassing, property destruction and disorderly conduct, and conspiracy to commit all three, will be referred to the King County Prosecutor’s Office,” the statement added.
The university further noted that it is committed to “maintaining a secure learning and research environment, and strongly condemns this illegal building occupation and the antisemitic statement that was issued by a suspended student group Monday.”
“The University will not be intimidated by this sort of offensive and destructive behavior and will continue to oppose antisemitism in all its forms,” the statement concluded.
Videos shared on social media show protesters chanting, “We charge you with genocide!” and “Death to the police!”
“Every cop dead is a victory for the resistance!” another individual exclaimed.
The Students United for Palestinian Equality & Return said the university is a “direct partner in the genocide of the Palestinian people through its allegiance to its partnership with Boeing,” Fox News reported.
“We refuse to be complicit while our education is directly funded and controlled by a corporation whose business leads to a mass genocide of Palestinian people,” the group said. “These bombs, missiles, and other weapons of destruction are made possible through Boeing’s access to UW’s campus, research facilities, and student labor.”
