SEATTLE — More than two dozen pro-Palestine protesters were arrested Monday after taking over a University of Washington academic building in opposition to the school’s ties to Boeing.
The group Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return claimed responsibility for the takeover, ABC News reports. The protesters, dressed in black and many covering their faces, entered the school’s new Interdisciplinary Engineering Building around 5 p.m. where they blocked the doors with furniture and lit two dumpsters on fire in the street, said Victor Balta, a university spokesperson and assistant vice president for communications. Several dozen people remained outside where organizers made speeches, provided dinner, and played music, according to The Daily.
A press release sent by the group said it would not leave the building until the school met three demands, which include severing all financial and educational ties with Boeing, turning the building into a “community-controlled space with pro-people education,” and “end[ing] the expulsion, suspension, and all repression and targeted assault of pro-Palestine activism and activists.” The group also asked for the building to be renamed.
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Boeing, an airplane manufacturer and one of the largest U.S defense companies, supplied $10 million as a donation to aid in the construction of the $90 million engineering building in 2022.
“Return any existing donations, financial investments, and eliminate all other material ties to Boeing,” the group demanded. “Prohibit Boeing executives and employees from teaching classes or having any influence over curriculum.”
University of Washington Pro-Palestine Protesters Face Multiple Charges
Campus police, along with several other law enforcement agencies, cleared the area outside the building around 10:30 p.m. and began clearing the building by 11 p.m. Approximately 30 people were arrested on charges including trespassing, property destruction, and disorderly conduct. Some were also charged with conspiracy to commit all three of those charges. All involved students will also be referred to the Student Conduct Office, said Balta.
Balta also wrote in a statement that the school is “committed to maintaining a secure learning and research environment, and strongly condemns this illegal building occupation” and that it “will not be intimidated by this sort of offensive and destructive behavior.”
The university alleges the protesters caused more than $1 million in damage.
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