30 Pro-Palestinian Protesters Arrested After Occupying University of Washington Engineering Building

SEATTLE — Approximately 30 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested Monday night after occupying the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building at the University of Washington, demanding the university sever ties with Boeing over its military contracts supporting the Israel Defense Forces. The protest, organized by the suspended student group Super UW, began around 5 p.m. and escalated into a dangerous situation, university officials said.

The protesters blocked access to two campus streets, barricaded entrances and exits with furniture, ignited fires in two dumpsters, and caused damage inside the building, which was partially funded by a $10 million Boeing donation in 2022. A KING 5 crew observed firefighters extinguishing a dumpster fire around 10:30 p.m. University police, assisted by Washington State Patrol and Seattle police, began clearing the area outside the building at 10:30 p.m. and entered the building at 11 p.m. to remove the protesters.

All university-affiliated individuals inside who wished to leave were able to do so, police said. The last arrests occurred around 2 a.m., with the final protesters leaving by 3 a.m. The 30 individuals face charges of trespassing, property destruction, disorderly conduct, and conspiracy to commit these acts, referred to the King County Prosecutor's Office. Identified students will also face Student Conduct Office proceedings.

Super UW stated online that the occupation was in solidarity with Palestine, protesting Boeing's defense contracts and the university's financial ties to the company, which has donated over $100 million to UW over the past century. The group renamed the building the Shaban al-Dalou Building, after a teenage engineering student reportedly killed in a Gaza airstrike, and hung a banner from a second-floor window.

The university issued a statement condemning the protest and an associated statement by Super UW, which it called antisemitic: "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."

The occupation follows a history of pro-Palestinian activism at UW, including a three-week encampment in the campus quad last year that ended after negotiations with administrators. Super UW's manifesto also praised the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, prompting university to label the group's rhetoric antisemitic. The UW Jewish Alumni Association called the protest "an absolute disgrace" on X, citing safety concerns and antisemitism on campus.

The incident reflects ongoing tensions over university ties to Boeing, a major employer of UW engineering graduates and a long-standing partner in aerospace research. No injuries were reported, and the university is assessing damage to the building.