A violent pro-Gaza protest at the University of Washington (UW) on Monday was organised by a “banned student group” which had praised the October 7, 2023 massacres, the JC can reveal.
Activists from Super UW occupied a building on the college’s Seattle campus, vandalised university property and set fires in what the group said was part of “the current and renewed wave of the student Intifada, following the uprising of student action for Palestine after the heroic victory of Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7”.
The Trump administration has now launched a formal investigation into the protest but sources on campus told the JC that the group has a long history of antisemitic statements and disruptive action.
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For example, a social media post issued by the group the day after the Hamas attacks was captioned: “Long live Palestine. We uplift the right of Palestinians to resist until return. Palestine will be free within our liftetime.”
Another post, made two days later, called on students to join a “day of resistance” and used the slogan “from the river to the sea”, which critics claim is a genocidal phrase referencing the destruction of Israel and the ethnic cleansing of Jews from the area between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea.
In response to the protests, on UW student told the JC: “[It’s] absolutely insane. It’s a banned student organisation...they sent out a post or something celebrating October 7 back when it happened.
"Quite apart from the antisemitism, its list of demands is also unrealistic and stupid.”
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These demands include the university cutting ties with Boeing (one of its major sponsors), repurposing the building in question into a “community controlled space” and an “end to the repression of pro-Palestine students, faculty and staff”.
In an email sent to all students and seen by the JC, university president Ana Mari Cauce said: “This was no peaceful protest in support of Palestinian rights or against the war in Gaza. 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 October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. The University will not be intimidated by this sort of horrific and destructive behaviour 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.”
Cauce added that officials were still working to identify around 30 people who were arrested at the protests and said that any found to be “UW students or community members” would be subject to disciplinary action.
In a statement announcing the investigation, education secretary Linda McMahon said: “The violence and chaos that ensued on University of Washington’s campus is yet another horrifying display of the antisemitic harassment and lawlessness which has characterised many of our nation’s elite campuses over the last several years. This destructive behaviour is unacceptable.
"The Task Force will not allow these so-called ‘protesters’ to disrupt campus life and deprive students, especially Jewish students who live in fear on campus, of their equal opportunity protections and civil rights.”
