30 protesters arrested after breaking into engineering building at UW

SEATTLE — Over 30 protesters had been arrested Monday evening after breaking into an engineering constructing on the College of Washington (UW) campus.

The group “Super UW” mentioned in a put up on-line that they had been there to help Palestine. They need the college to chop ties with Boeing due to the corporate’s protection contracts with the army, particularly what’s getting used to help the Israel Protection Forces.

The protesters occupied the Interdisciplinary Engineering Constructing, which obtained a $10 million donation from Boeing. UW confirmed they blocked entry to 2 streets outdoors the constructing, blocked entrances and exits to the constructing, ignited fires in two dumpsters on a avenue outdoors and brought on harm inside. 

A KING 5 crew on the scene noticed a dumpster fireplace close by. Hearth crews had been on scene extinguishing the hearth round 10:30 p.m.

The protest started round 5 p.m. Protesters stacked furnishings close to entryways to make entry tougher, although everybody contained in the constructing linked to UW who didn’t wish to be there was capable of go away, police mentioned. 

The Washington State Patrol entered the constructing round 11 p.m.

Thirty-two protesters had been arrested on suspicion of trespassing, property destruction, disorderly conduct and conspiracy to commit all three. Fees had been referred to the King County Prosecutor’s Workplace. Any college students recognized as being concerned shall be referred to the Scholar Conduct Workplace, a college spokesperson mentioned. 

The King County Prosecutor’s Workplace mentioned 4 individuals arrested within the protests appeared Tuesday morning in court docket. One other individual will seem Tuesday afternoon in court docket. Nearly all of protesters arrested, greater than two dozen individuals, will seem in court docket Wednesday morning, the prosecutor’s workplace mentioned. 

In keeping with the King County Prosecutor’s Workplace, not one of the circumstances have been referred for felony fees as of Tuesday afternoon.

The final of the arrests occurred round 2 a.m. and the final of the protesters left round 3 a.m., in keeping with a KING 5 crew on scene.

UW launched an announcement following the protest. 

“The UW 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.” 

UW President Ana Mari Cauce condemned the protest in an e-mail despatched Tuesday to the group.

“This was no peaceful protest in support of Palestinian rights or against the war in Gaza,” Cauce wrote within the e-mail. “I condemn this dangerous, violent and illegal building occupation and related vandalism. I also condemn in the strongest terms the group’s statement celebrating the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. The University will not be intimidated by this sort of horrific and destructive behavior and will not engage in dialogue with any group using or condoning such destructive tactics. We will continue our actions to oppose antisemitism, racism and all forms of biases so that ALL our students, faculty, staff and visitors can feel safe and welcome on our campuses.”