More than 25 people were arrested after a group occupied an academic building at the University of Washington, demanding school relations with Boeing during the war in Gaza continued, according to the university and the spokesperson for the group.
A group named United Students for Equality and Palestinian returns claimed that behind the takeover, with a spokesman told ABC News that everyone who entered the building was arrested.
“They were all arrested and legal and political support was ongoing for them,” said spokesman Oliver Marchant, in a text, added, “All were arrested except one in the building – some of those who were arrested were also injured during the arrest and needed medical attention. “
Around 30 people were arrested with accusations that include violations, destroying property and disorderly behavior, Victor Balta, a spokesman for the University and Assistant Vice President of Communication, said in a statement. Some of those who were arrested were charged with conspiracy to carry out the three charges, said Balta, added that they would be referred to the King County Prosecutor’s Office.
“Every student identified will also be referred to the office of student behavior,” Balta said.
The school said in the previous press statement that “some dozen people” had entered the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building just before 5 pm. The campus police were called to the scene, the university said in a statement to ABC News.
Police officers were seen at the University of Washington campus during the occupation of a building by the protesters, in this screening from a video provided by students united for the equality of Palestine and returned the UW on March 5, 2025.
Students unite for Palestinian equality and return UW
Campus police, who worked with several other agencies, began to clean up areas outside the building around 10:30, said Balta. The protesters have worked to block the door and also lit two trash bins on the road, he said. At 11 pm, the police had entered and began to clean the building.
Before the arrest, the school said “The preparation mostly covered their faces and piled building furniture near the entrance.”
“As far as we know, everyone who is connected to UW who does not want to be in the building has gone,” said the university in a statement. “The people left in the building violated and will face actions of legal behavior and students.”
The group, which was running by Super UW and who identified itself as a pro-Palestine, issued a series of demands for school administrators, including issuing “Boeing from IEB,” as the building they live in.
The group asked for the building to be replaced.
Boeing, an aircraft manufacturer and one of the largest defense companies in the United States, has a long history with the University of Washington.
The company, previously office in Seattle, supplied around $ 10 million as a donation to assist in the construction of a $ 90 million engineering building, said the school in 2022, before construction. Press broadcasts since then noted that “Boeing’s relationship with UW’s date returned to more than a century.”
The group that occupies the building being sought, is wider, to stop all donations from Boeing to school.
“Returning the contribution, financial investment, and eliminating all other material bonds with Boeing,” the group said. “Prohibiting the executive and Boeing employees from the teaching class or have an influence on the curriculum.”
Balta in a statement said the school “committed to maintaining a safe learning environment and research, and strongly condemned the work of this illegal building.” The school also condemned strong language in a pressing press release, with Balta saying “will not be intimidated by this kind of offensive and destructive behavior.”
ABC News’ Tristan Caterians and Erica and Erica and Erica and Erica, a report.