Pro-Palestinian Protesters Occupy UW Building

On Monday, pro-Palestinian demonstrators took over an engineering building at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, as reported by the student newspaper.

The Daily reported that the protesters are calling for the university to sever its financial ties with Boeing, which has a significant partnership with the institution.

A group advocating for equality in Palestine noted on social media, “Students are occupying this building in light of the ongoing Intifada.”

The group expressed strong sentiments, accusing the university of complicity in what they term the “genocide” of Palestinians due to its relationship with Boeing, which produces military aircraft and weapons. They specifically mentioned the destruction inflicted on Palestinian families and infrastructure.

Boeing holds a long-standing presence in the Seattle area, with major factories providing employment to many residents around Puget Sound.

Victor Barta, a spokesman for UW, stated that “many individuals temporarily occupied interdisciplinary engineering buildings, creating dangerous environments in and around them.”

The university reported that nearly 30 individuals were arrested on charges including trespassing, property destruction, and disorderly conduct. These cases have been referred to the local prosecutor’s office.

The police collaborated with local law enforcement to manage the situation, starting to clean up the area outside the building at around 10:30 PM before addressing the building itself around 11 PM.

The university and Boeing have been approached for comments regarding the incident.