Police Called After Protesters Take Over University Building (Video)

In a fiery clash of radical activism and law enforcement, dozens of masked demonstrators took over an academic building at the University of Washington late Monday, turning a college campus into a political battleground. The scene resembled a war zone more than a place of higher learning, as dumpsters burned, streets were barricaded, and chants glorifying violence against police echoed through Seattle’s U-District.

The agitators—organized under the banner of Students United for Palestinian Equality & Return—demanded that the university sever ties with aerospace giant Boeing, accusing the company of fueling the Israeli military and “genocide in Gaza.” The situation quickly spiraled as protesters barricaded the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering and renamed it in honor of a 19-year-old Palestinian man who was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a Hamas command post.

“They lit fires, blocked roads, and called for the death of cops—this wasn’t a protest, it was a siege,” said retired Seattle police officer Mark Reyes, who lives near the campus. “And the university let it escalate far too long before stepping in.”

Law enforcement—including UW Police and the Seattle PD—moved in around 10:30 p.m. Donning riot gear, officers cleared the perimeter before storming the building at approximately 11 p.m. At least 30 individuals were arrested on charges including trespassing, destruction of property, disorderly conduct, and conspiracy to commit all three.

According to UW officials, the building had become “a dangerous environment” with protesters blocking entryways, setting fires, and defacing property. One chilling video from the scene captured a masked protester screaming, “Every cop dead is a victory for the resistance.”

In a rare moment of clarity from a public university, UW released a statement condemning the antisemitic rhetoric and violent tactics, saying it “will not be intimidated” by radical activism. “The university remains committed to a secure learning and research environment,” the statement read, and “strongly condemns this illegal building occupation and the antisemitic statement that was issued by a suspended student group Monday.”

This suspended group—Students United for Palestinian Equality & Return—has a long history of inflammatory rhetoric, but Monday marked an escalation. The group’s social media posts encouraged others to wear masks and “cover identifiable features.” They also boasted that Boeing had donated $10 million to the building they occupied and accused the company of manufacturing “weapons of mass destruction.”

Background: The Boeing-UW Connection

Boeing, a cornerstone of Washington state’s economy and one of America’s top defense contractors, has a decades-long relationship with the University of Washington. The company funds research, hires graduates, and supports engineering innovation on campus. Activists now claim this collaboration makes UW “complicit” in what they describe as “Palestinian genocide.”

But while the protesters call it genocide, Israel describes it as a war against Hamas—a designated terrorist organization responsible for the October 7, 2023, massacre that left 1,200 Israelis dead and triggered the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Calls for Action

Republican lawmakers are calling on UW administrators to take stronger disciplinary action, including expulsions and permanent suspensions.

“This isn’t free speech—it’s anarchy,” said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). “The university must stop coddling extremist groups who openly endorse violence, obstruct campus operations, and promote antisemitic hate.”

Local business owners also expressed outrage after protest-related closures impacted foot traffic and safety. “These kids aren’t protesting; they’re playing revolution with someone else’s property and someone else’s future,” said one café owner whose shop stayed closed overnight for fear of looting.

A Growing Trend Across Campuses

This latest eruption is part of a nationwide wave of anti-Israel demonstrations erupting at liberal universities—many fueled by calls to “decolonize,” “divest,” and dismantle long-standing American defense partnerships.

“This is what happens when radical ideology meets institutional cowardice,” said David Horowitz, founder of the Freedom Center. “Campuses are no longer safe spaces for debate—they’re recruitment grounds for activism that veers dangerously close to terrorism.”

Whether UW will follow through on promised accountability remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the clash over Israel, antisemitism, and campus free speech is far from over.