BUZZ
University suspended several students, but none have been charged 80 days after protest
The University of Washington suffered an estimated $1 million in damages resulting from a May anti-Israel protest that involved a mob take-over of a campus building, KOMO News reports.
However, months later, authorities have not charged anyone for the vandalism, according to the report.
A spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said the investigation is still on-going.
“I think a lot of people wonder, what the heck’s taking so long,” Casey McNerthney told the news outlet. “Also, will people be held accountable for the million-plus dollars worth of damage? The answer is yes, if there’s evidence to do so …”
The protest took place 80 days ago, and the university building still is showing the effects, according to the report:
To this day, some of the windows remain unfixed, and at least one large pane is covered by plywood. The UW has installed temporary lighting and cameras outside and closed the building for the summer. …
The University of Washington suspended multiple students after the occupation and vandalism. UW spokesperson Victor Balta said Thursday that the students “remain suspended” and that there has been “significant progress on repairs and there are some aspects that are still in the works”.
“This is certainly active. It’s not on somebody’s desk that’s forgotten,” said McNerthney about the UW vandalism, while admitting, “That’s still not satisfying for people, because they want to see results. What I can say with certainty, and I’m sure that UW would say too, is that prosecutors and police are working to find as much evidence as possible to try to hold people accountable.”
The pro-Palestinian group Super UW, which was involved in the protest, posted photos (above) of the vandalism on its Instagram account.
In a June post, it alleged the university suspended students unfairly without “an investigation or any criminal charges.”
Police arrested more than 30 people during the May 5 protest at the UW Interdisciplinary Engineering Building.
Masked protesters took over the building, smashing windows and lighting fires in the street nearby while demanding the university cut ties with Boeing due to its connections to Israel, The College Fix reported in May.
In a video posted on X by pro-Israel activist Eyal Yakoby, protesters could be heard chanting “Death to the police!”
Students United for Palestinian Equality & Return wrote on Instagram at the time, “The University of Washington is a direct partner in the genocide of the Palestinian people through its allegiance to its partnership with Boeing.”
MORE: Pro-Israel event reported 50 times to U. Illinois bias team
IMAGES CAPTION AND CREDIT: Photos show vandalism resulting from a May protest on the University of Washington campus; Super UW/Instagram
