May 7, 2025 - Politics & Policy

University of Washington suspends 21 students after protest arrests

Rebecca Falconer

People hold signs as they show support for Palestinians during a "Fight for Our Rights" demonstration by Shut It Down for Palestine (SID4P) and various local groups at the University of Washington campus in Seattle in March. — A pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Washington campus in Seattle in March. Photo: Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images

The University of Washington suspended 21 students who were arrested during pro-Palestinian protests at the Seattle campus this week, per a UW statement Wednesday.

The big picture: The suspended students have been banned from all college campuses. They were among some 30 demonstrators arrested Monday during a protest calling on the college to cut ties with Boeing due to the aircraft maker's relationship with Israel, according to the statement.

The students are accused of setting fire to dumpsters and occupying a UW engineering building. Boeing had donated $10 million for the building's construction.
The Trump administration's Task Force to Combat Antisemitism launched a review of the university in response to the protest.

What they're saying: "The University values its long-standing partnership with the federal government," UW said in its statement.

"We will cooperate with the Task Force's review and are confident that an evaluation will find we are in compliance with federal civil rights laws."

What we're watching: Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return (SUPER), the student group that says it's behind the protest, urged the UW community "to rally in support" of the suspended students at 1pm Thursday local time and called for the charges to be dropped, per a Facebook post.

More from Axios:

Add Axios on Google

University of Washington suspends 21 students after protest arrests

What to read next