Antisemitism at the University of Washington

There are so many positive things to say about the University of Washington's role as a regional center for education, research, and service to the community.

Unfortunately, during the past two years, these positives have been clouded by the tolerance of antisemitism on campus, antisemitism that has frequently turned violent and destructive.  

As described below, the current UW administration bears serious responsibility for allowing this situation to fester.

Many news reports and social media accounts have described the shameful activities that have occurred at the UW. 

Violent, pro-Hamas activists, many wearing masks and Keffiyehs, have called for the killing of Jews (see below) and for the destruction of Israel (from the River to the Sea).

 

Jewish students have been attacked.  One such student described such an incident to me.  He was walking on campus with an Israeli flag.  A group of masked individuals attacked him, pushing him to the ground, tearing up the flag, and then burning it.  Professor Stuart Reges was pummeled in the illicit pro-Hamas encampment of last year.

Antisemitic, anti-Israel vandals have defaced UW buildings, resulting in hundreds of dollars in costs (see below).

Last week, a violent, destructive pro-Hamas hate group took over the new Interdisciplinary Engineering Building, causing over a million dollars of damage.  Why?  Because Boeing contributed to the building.

And to accentuate their message, they started several large fires in dumpsters.

Last year, pro-Hamas supporters took over the Arts Quad with a large encampment, which is totally illegal on state property.

Hundreds of complaints of serious incidents of discrimination and hate against Jews were recorded by the Biden Administration, which sent a letter to the UW, noting the inadequate response of the administration.

When some Jewish students tried to speak to the UW Board of Regents about harassment and violence, a pro-Hamas group disrupted the meeting and was so threatening that the meeting had to be canceled.  The Jewish students and regents were forced to retreat to a safe space under UW police protection.

I have seen and experienced profoundly antisemitic activities in person. 

 Hamas supporters have gone around campus with amplified sound (which is illegal on campus), calling for the destruction of "colonialists"...Jews of Israel... from the River to the Sea (Mediterranean to the Jordan River).  The Chanukah celebration on Red Square in 2023 was harassed by Hamas supporters, who then topped off the evening by taking over the President's Office in the UW Administration Building.

According to ADL, the UW is one of the worst public schools in the nation regarding antisemitism, with a rating of D:

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this situation has been the UW Administration's tolerance of hate speech, illegal activities, property destruction, and profound anti-Semitism.

For months, a patently illegal encampment was allowed and SUPPORTED by the UW with garbage cans and facilities.  Instead of ending the encampment with suspensions and arrests, the UW offered free scholarships to Gazan students, actions to investigate Islamophobia, and representation on committees.

Pro-Hamas activists would disrupt classes with amplified sound, and the UW did nothing. 

The Hamas supporters called for genocide against Jews, and the administration did nothing.

 Can you imagine if the same hate and threats were directed at Black, Hispanic, or Gay groups?  The UW would never tolerate it.

When a local church group had a rally on campus, during a period when the illegal encampment was in place, the UW protected the encampment with barriers and police (see pictures below).  Seriously, I am not making this up.

Recently, the College of Environment DEI office (now the Office of Inclusive Excellence) put out an email celebrating Arab Heritage Month and had links to patently antisemitic and anti-Israel websites. 

Last week, the Trump administration, following the Biden administration, warned the UW about the profound anti-Semitism on the UW campus and began a new investigation.  Clearly, if the current tolerance of hate continues, potential costs to the UW could be substantial, including the suspension of Federal grants.

Will the UW administration finally act to deal with this plague of hate?    

A good first step would be to ban outdoor masks, something done by other universities (like the University of California system, Columbia).   Ban public speech calling for violence.  Make it clear that students participating in illegal activities will be arrested and expelled.

Hate and violence have no place on the UW campus, and the current administration has been irresponsible in allowing violence and destructive anti-Semitism to continue for nearly two years.