Tell UW To Give Pro-Palestine Protesters A Fair Disciplinary Case

University of Washington students are calling on Seattle community members to phonebank to pressure UW to give the 21 pro-Palestine student protesters that the University suspended earlier this year due process in their disciplinary case. With the University rushing to collectively punish the protesters behind closed doors, student activists say now is the time to make sure the University cannot kick them out — at least not quietly. 

In May of this year, a group of UW students and community members associated with SUPER UW occupied the new Interdisciplinary Engineering Building for several hours. According to a post on social media, SUPER UW targeted that particular building because Boeing donated $10 million toward its construction in 2022. Boeing manufactured more missiles and munitions for Israel between the years 2021-2023 than any other company. The group demanded that the UW cut ties with the genocide-profiteer. 

Instead of negotiating with the students, UW sent in the cops who “dragged and threw people down flights of stairs, threw furniture over people’s heads, and slammed people’s bodies into the ground,” causing “multiple concussions, nerve damage, and other injuries,” according to SUPER UW.

The cops arrested 33 people and the University suspended 21 students. 

University President Ana Mari Cauce argued that the action did not qualify as “a peaceful protest in support of Palestinian rights or against the war in Gaza” because of the protesters alleged “horrific and destructive behavior.” The University bemoaned $1 million in property damage, but have not released an itemized list explaining that figure or publicly proven that all the damage should be attributed to the protesters, not the cops who students accused of throwing furniture. 

Since the May protest, SUPER UW and other aligned groups have been fighting to get the UW to drop the charges against the protesters and reinstate the 21 students. SUPER UW argued in their “Defend UW33: A Toolkit” document that “the UW administration’s punitive measures set a dangerous precedent – threatening the right to protest, academic freedom, and the safety of those who stand for justice. We cannot allow intimidation tactics to silence dissent against the ongoing genocide and starvation of Palestine.”

According to SUPER UW’s situationer, the UW33 are set to go on trial on October 9th in a closed hearing over Zoom, a move that earned UW accusations of attempting to expel the students “quickly and quietly.” 

“Because students stood up for Palestinians, UW is determined to bury them,” the document reads. 

With the prehearing conference slated for Tuesday, organizers say that in the next few days, the UW’s hearing officer, David Huneryager, will make the critical decision whether or not to allow the public to view the opening and closing statements of the disciplinary trial. 

If you have yet to advocate for the UW33 so far, organizers say the time to start is now. Sign up for a phonebanking slot, call  the UW Civil Rights Office at 206-221-7932 and if you’re not sure what to say, borrow their script: 

“Hello! My name is ____ and I am a [relation to the UW] concerned about the decision to hold a closed hearing for the students suspended for their participation in the May 5th occupation of the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building.

The UW’s violation of due process has had immense consequences for these students. They have been “emergency” suspended for nearly 5 months, causing these students to lose their jobs, financial aid eligibility, housing, and healthcare while dealing with medical issues like broken bones and nerve damage from the brutality caused by UWPD officers. These students, at least, deserve a fair and speedy trial, which can be guaranteed with the transparency of a public hearing. 

Additionally, as the Trump administration seeks to dismantle our institutions of education, the UW must stand up against their repression and not capitulate on the values that make our community exceptional. As the UW is a public university, I believe it is in the public interest to have the opportunity to hold the university accountable to its stated values. 

With this, I strongly encourage you, David Huneryager (Huhn-er-yay-ger), to make the opening and closing statements publicly accessible. Thank you.”