More than 25 people were arrested after a group occupied an academic building at the University of Washington, demanding that the school cut the ties with Boeing while the war in Gaza continues, according to the university and a spokeswoman for the group.
A group called the United students for equality and the Palestinian return said it was behind the acquisition, with a spokesman who told ABC News that all the people who entered the building were arrested.
“All were arrested and legal and political support is ongoing for them,” said spokesman, Oliver Marchant, in a text, added: “All those arrested, except one inside the building, some of those arrested were also injured during the arrest and needed medical attention.”
Some 30 people were arrested for charges that included search, destruction of property and disorderly behavior, said Victor Balta, spokesman for the University and vice president of communications, in a statement. Some of those arrested were accused of conspiracy to commit all three positions, said Balta, adding that they would be referred to the King County Prosecutor’s office.
“Any student identified as involved will also be sent to the student’s office of behavior,” said Balta.
The school said in a previous press release that “a few dozen people” had entered the interdisciplinary engineering building just before the closing of the 5 pm. The Campus Police was called to the scene, the university said in a statement to ABC News.
Police officers are seen on the Campus of the University of Washington during an occupation of a building by protesters, on this screen of a video supplied by the United students for Palestinian equality and UW returns on March 5, 2025.
United Students for Palestinian Equality and Return UW
The campus police, who worked with several other agencies, began cleaning the area outside the building around 10:30 pm, said Balta. The protesters had worked to block the doors and also lit two garbage containers on the street, he said. At 11 in the afternoon, the police had entered and began to clean the building.
Before the arrests, the school said that “Intruders mainly cover their faces and stack the construction furniture near tickets.”
“As far as we know, all those who connect with the UW who do not want to be inside the building,” said the university in a statement. “People who remain in the building are transferred and will face student legal actions.”
The group, which passes through Super UW and that was identified as Pro-Palestine, issued a series of demands for school administrators, including the elimination of “BOEING of the IEB”, as the building they occupied is known.
The group requested that the building be renamed.
Boeing, a aircraft manufacturer and one of the largest defense companies in the United States, has a long history with the University of Washington.
The company, which previously had its headquarters in Seattle, supplied around $ 10 million as a donation to help in the construction of the $ 90 million engineering building, the school said in 2022, before construction. A press release from that time indicated that “Boeing’s relationship with the UW dates back to more than a century.”
The group that occupied the building sought, more widely, to stop all Boeing donations to school.
“Return any existing donation, financial investments and eliminate all other material ties with Boeing,” said the group. “Prohibit Boeing executives and employees from teaching classes or having some influence on the curriculum.”
Balta in a statement said the school was “committed to maintaining a safe learning and research environment, and strongly condemn this occupation of illegal buildings.” The school also condemned the strong language in the press release of the protesters, with Balta saying that “it will not be intimidated by this type of offensive and destructive behavior.”
Tristan Caterians de ABC News and Erica and Erica and Erica and Erica, a report.
