Protests Erupt at University of Washington as Students Demand Boeing Divestment

A tense standoff unfolded at the University of Washington in Seattle on Monday evening when over two dozen pro-Palestinian protesters occupied an engineering building, leading to their arrests and heightened controversy on campus. The protest group, Super UW, aimed to pressure the university to sever its ties with Boeing, citing the company’s military contracts with Israel, which the group believes contribute to the violence against Palestinians.

The protest centered around the university’s Interdisciplinary Engineering Building, which was partially funded by a $10 million donation from Boeing in 2022. The demonstrators, many of whom wore black masks, were upset by Boeing’s involvement in defense contracts that they claim fuel the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The group’s Facebook post stated, “UW students want Boeing off our campus,” demanding the school cut its relationship with the aerospace giant.

Tensions escalated when protesters set fire to two dumpsters outside the building and barricaded entrances with furniture. Law enforcement, including Washington state patrol and Seattle police, moved in to disperse the crowd and arrest around 30 individuals on charges of trespassing, property destruction, and disorderly conduct. The group’s occupation was deemed a “dangerous environment” by university officials, who condemned the protest as both illegal and disruptive.

In addition to their demands for Boeing’s removal from the campus, the protesters called for the building to be renamed in honor of Shaban al-Dalou, a Palestinian student killed in Gaza. The group’s spokesperson, Eric Horford, expressed a desire to “expose the repressive tactics of the university” and criticized its financial ties to corporations like Boeing.

The protest comes as part of a broader movement of pro-Palestinian actions at U.S. universities, with student groups using their platforms to draw attention to Israel’s military actions and its ties to corporate America. As the tension between student activists and university officials continues to rise, it’s clear that the protests are part of a larger battle over campus involvement with controversial companies and global political issues.

The University of Washington’s response has drawn mixed reactions, with some alumni voicing disappointment over the handling of the situation, while others see the protest as a necessary challenge to the school’s priorities.