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Protesters demand UW reverse suspensions of students who occupied engineering building

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Slideshow Icon1 of 5Bissan Barghouti, an organizer with Nidal Seattle and the Masar Badil, speaks to crowd rallying outside of Gerberding Hall on Thursday, May 8, 2025, on the University of Washington campus in Seattle.
Credit: KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer

About 100 people rallied at University of Washington's Seattle campus on Thursday to demand the university reverse suspensions against 21 students.

The students suspended were among 34 protesters banned from campus after they occupied UW's new engineering building on Monday, blocking exits and smashing lab equipment in an incident that caught the attention of the Trump administration.

RELATED: 21 students suspended, banned after UW protest

Rally-goers on Thursday defended the students' actions and spoke in support of Hamas, saying the demonstrators were justified by the rising death toll in Gaza and Boeing's supplying munitions and missiles to Israel.

caption: ‘Jewish Students Say Divest Now,’ reads a sign as a crowd gathers for a rally outside of Gerberding Hall on behalf of students who were banned and suspended following an occupation of an engineering building, on Thursday, May 8, 2025, on the University of Washington campus in Seattle.
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‘Jewish Students Say Divest Now,’ reads a sign as a crowd gathers for a rally outside of Gerberding Hall on behalf of students who were banned and suspended following an occupation of an engineering building, on Thursday, May 8, 2025, on the University of Washington campus in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer

"Boeing pumps millions of dollars into this university, money made from the genocide of Palestinians. In return, what do they get?" said Bissan Barghouti, an organizer and speaker at the rally. "A pipeline that sends students straight into Boeing after graduation."

None of the suspended and banned students were apparently present Thursday, but speakers read a number of anonymous statements from them.

RELATED: Trump administration launches antisemitism probe into UW following protest

No charges have been filed yet. Police are still investigating the identities of protesters who gave them "John/Jane Doe" names, in addition to the dollar amount of damages to determine whether to charge arrestees with felonies or misdemeanors, a King County prosecutor told KUOW.

caption: Damage allegedly done by protesters to machinery in UW's Fabrication Studio inside the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building.
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Damage allegedly done by protesters to machinery in UW's Fabrication Studio inside the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building.
University of Washington

Speakers also said police beat and "brutalized" protesters on Monday, blocking their airways. Organizers alleged online that three protesters went to the hospital, but UW said they were only aware of one person who was screened and cleared by a medic on-scene.

UW president Ana Marie Cauce has condemned the protesters for the property damage and statements she called antisemitic.

RELATED: UW president warns of budget crisis, potential layoffs

caption: Damage done inside the UW's Interdisciplinary Engineering Building allegedly by protesters on Monday, May 5th, 2025.
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Damage done inside the UW's Interdisciplinary Engineering Building allegedly by protesters on Monday, May 5th, 2025.
University of Washington

The federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism applauded UW's "quick" action arresting and condemning protesters, but wrote in a press release Tuesday that the university "must do more to deter future violence and guarantee that Jewish students have a safe and productive learning environment."

UW promised to cooperate with a federal review and said it values its "longstanding partnership" with the federal government.

The arrests and condemnation represent the toughest moves UW has taken against protesters recently, after the administration negotiated with the groups occupying the Liberal Arts Quadrangle last year.

Many high-profile Democrats, such as Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and Attorney General Nick Brown, have said the protesters should be "held accountable."

Others worry Trump will use property destruction and the protesters' stated support of Hamas to justify moves against higher education and arresting other pro-Palestinian protesters. Congresswoman Emily Randall of Bremerton told KUOW’s Sound Politics podcast on Thursday that she supports free speech and peaceful protest.

"But when it comes to a million dollars of damages, lighting fires – that’s not a peaceful protest," Randall said. "This administration is looking for any opportunity to deny people their right to free speech, to go after educational institutions, and to silence the electorate."

Barghouti responded that Trump doesn’t need an excuse to shut down free speech.

caption: ‘Stop Arming Israel’ reads a banner as a crowd gathers on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in front of Gerberding Hall on the University of Washington campus in Seattle.
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‘Stop Arming Israel’ reads a banner as a crowd gathers on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in front of Gerberding Hall on the University of Washington campus in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
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