More than 25 protesters arrested after taking over University of Washington building

[groundloop]

Source: ABC News

More than 25 people were arrested after a group occupied an academic building at the University of Washington, demanding the school sever ties with Boeing as the war in Gaza continues, according to the university and a spokesperson for the group.

A group called Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return claimed it was behind the takeover, with a spokesperson telling ABC News that all of the people who entered the building were arrested.

''They were all arrested and legal and political support is ongoing for them," the spokesperson, Oliver Marchant, said in a text, adding, "All arrested except one were inside the building -- some of those arrested were also injured during arrest and need medical attention."

About 30 people were arrested on charges that included trespassing, property destruction and disorderly conduct, Victor Balta, a university spokesperson and assistant vice president for communications, said in a statement. Some of those arrested were charged with conspiracy to commit all three of those charges, Balta said, adding that they would be referred to the King County Prosecutor's Office.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/protesters-university-washington-building/story?id=121505881

[Oopsie Daisy]

1. Meh. It'll be forgotten tomorrow *

* but I wonder how long this will remain "on their permanent record" or how much it will cost them in legal fees, fines and penalties.

[LauraInLA]

21. With all the damage they did? I would assume not.

[Oopsie Daisy]

24. I should have said that it will be forgotten by the press and the public.

[Tangy]

2. June 14 Protests

Does anyone know how to find the locations of protests planned for June 14?

[Lulu KC]

6. see this post

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143454157

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. Welcome to DU

[marble falls]

11. Here ...

https://www.bustle.com/p/the-1-resistance-resource-you-should-know-about-39787

[MarineCombatEngineer]

3. I have no problem with peacefully protesting, a right guaranteed under the 1st Amendment to the Constitution,

but when they illegally enter a building to take it over and cause damage, that's when it becomes criminal.

[maxsolomon]

9. Apparently the damage to the almost-complete new building is extensive.

Pulled doors off the hinges to use as barricades, graffiti, stickers, glued front doors, and damage to expensive equipment.

If any of the occupiers are students, they won't be shortly.

[marble falls]

12. Facing the music is part of the deal. We are a nation built on civil disobedience ...

... a trial is part of the podium.

This is real free speech: speech unfettered by prior restraint. A jury decides what and what sort of sanctioning is made, including nullification of the application of any specific law. Also, prior to hearings and trials - a presumption of innocence.

Stuff you and I swore to defend.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

14. Yep, the Oath of Enlistment was, and still is, sacrosanct to me as I'm positive it is to you and all other DU vets here.

They broke the law, now they have to face the consequences of their actions, that's how the US Judicial system is supposed to work, despite what Been A Dick Donald and his criminal org. are attempting to destroy.

[iemanja]

13. Like when Corey Booker and others did a sit in?

You want them deported too?

As students, they did not illegally enter a U of Washington building.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

15. Just where the hell did you come up with that?

I'll kindly thank you to not put words in my mouth that I didn't say, I've no idea where those words came from.

[iemanja]

16. I got it from your posts.

You condemn the Palestinian activists for occupying a building, a building you falsely claimed students had no right to enter. You did not condemn the sit-in by Democratic office holders. Why? You oppose free Palestine speech.

Have you not advocated for deportation of Palestinian protestors in the past, or do I remember incorrectly?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

17. No, I condemn those activists for causing damage to the building and illegally taking it over, which is a violation of

the law, so, one more time, don't put words in my mouth that I never said, I've no idea where those words have been.

[iemanja]

18. Why not Corey Booker and the Democrats?

They too violated the law. Yet you've been given two chances to condemn them but won't. You're very selective in your condemnations of lawlessness.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

19. If they violated the law, then they too should face the consequences of their actions, and I'm quite sure

that they considered this before taking the action that they did.
The bottom line is that if you consider the consequences of your actions, weigh your options and decide to go ahead and break the law, then you've also decided to take the consequences and take your chances with the judicial system.

[AloeVera]

37. Selective respect for the law is a feature.

See my post #35.

[betsuni]

39. What law did they violate?

[LauraInLA]

22. Did Cory Booker damage the building?! I hadn't heard that!

[yagotme]

29. Of course not.

Methinks someone is merely spoiling for a fight. Obviously misstating what someone else posted isn't very nice...

[LauraInLA]

31. I was honestly confused, as the two situations seemed different. I thought the post was referring to proprrty

damage rather than a sit-in. Apologies if I misunderstood.

[yagotme]

50. They are quite different.

Something the one poster seems to be blindly ignoring.

[AloeVera]

32. Did the students "damage the building"?

What damage to the building? Barricading doors? Please clarify.

On edit:
I just saw the link in another post. The university claims $1million in damages. That is outrageous and indefensible. Also destructive to their own cause. Stupid. Makes me wonder.

[Beastly Boy]

41. I want them punished. And shamed. Not defended.

The occupation of the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building was led by the pro-Palestine student group Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return (Super UW). Super UW called for the protest in a manifesto published earlier in the day, in which the group also lauded the October 7 massacre.

"We are taking this building amidst the current and renewed wave of the student Intifada, following the uprising of student action for Palestine after the heroic victory of Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7th, which shattered the illusion of zionist-imperialist domination and brought Palestine to the forefront for all justice-loving people of the world," the manifesto said.

https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-852841

They are malevolent bigots and criminal thugs.

[twodogsbarking]

4. The protests will go on. Trump will react illegally. Wait for it.

[maxsolomon]

5. Sure, UW will sever ties with Boeing.

They have to know that's laughably quixotic.

[betsuni]

28. And to preserve purity from Boeing, no arts. No dance or music performances, museums, community projects,

non-profits, education -- in fact, better check everything before leaving one's room just in case Boeing has funded something to do with it in the last 100 years or so. Maybe just stay home memorizing holy texts while incorrectly wearing scarves in between vandalism events.

[sarisataka]

7. More of the 'Rape is Resistance' crowd acting out

“We are taking this building amidst the current and renewed wave of the student Intifada, following the uprising of student action for Palestine after the heroic victory of Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7th, ” Super UW wrote.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/uw-protest-occupation-end-with-30-arrests/

[EX500rider]

8. "after the heroic victory of Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7th" Same way the Rape of Nanking was "heroic victory" for Japan?

Sickos

[Behind the Aegis]

23. And yet, some STILL continue to defend their methods.

It is beyond disgusting. Protesting is fine. Even things like chaining oneself to a fence and shit like that, which will get one arrested; which is often the point. But those defending/making excuses for wanton destruction and pretending it is some form of legitimate protest are disgusting.

[AloeVera]

36. Bitterly hilarious and ironic.

I mean this:

"But those defending/making excuses for wanton destruction and pretending it is some form of legitimate protest are disgusting."

Let's apply that to Gaza and replace "protest" with "war". Then I would agree with your statement.

[Beastly Boy]

43. No, let's not arbitrarily replace "protest" with "war". And see if you still defend these racist thugs.

Protest is not war, and a university building is not Gaza. And entitled pricks who support terrorism from the safety of a university campus are not "freedom fighters". Duh.

[LauraInLA]

20. They caused $1M worth of damage?!

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/uw-closes-new-engineering-building-protest-causes-major-damage/281-550b8137-f76f-4187-ab5d-70d4075d3d75

[betsuni]

25. "Vandalism against engineering buildings is an attack against engineering students ..."

Way to go, Freedom From Thought Fighters! You have puzzled the brainy engineering students: "Wow" ... why ... "It's just unheard of here."

Technology is bad capitalist empire racist oppression! Use rocks and sticks, as nature intended.

[maxsolomon]

54. They smashed CNC Controllers that are 100K each.

They spray-painted interior surfaces, glued doors shut. Fixing any of that isn't cheap.

[LauraInLA]

55. So incredibly stupid.

[JohnSJ]

26. One question, who did these protesters vote for? and if it wasn't for VP Harris, then f**K THEM

As for their vandalism, that's bullshit, and not only should they be charged appropriately, but if found guilty, made to pay for the damages.

[kelly1mm]

27. The reporting is claiming over 1M in damages so about 40k per protester. nt

[JohnSJ]

30. Garnish their wages or community service until it is paid off.

[MichMan]

33. How is the school made whole for damages if they are given community service?

They need to pay every cent in restitution.

EDIT: I agree with community service as an option if it is calculated based on paying off the $40,000 estimated damage per student at a $16.66 per hour Washington minimum wage rate. 2400 hours of community service would get them there.

[JohnSJ]

34. I am assuming they aren't gainfully employed, but what you suggest sounds fine

too.

[MichMan]

52. They may not be gainfully employed now, but students graduating from elite colleges will eventually earn a decent salary

Not that I would hire any of them if it was up to me.

[JohnSJ]

53. I hear you. I wonder how many are students, and if they are, one would hope they would be automatically

be expelled from the school.

[AloeVera]

38. How will Gaza be "made whole"?

Oh I know! Everyone who supported or was complicit in its willful destruction should be made to work at mimimim wage until the entire $50 BILLION or more is paid off! Destroying people's homes to advance ethnic cleansing is bad. There are laws.

Then they can start on restitution to the families of those Palestinians who were forced from their homes and lands and not allowed to return. Theft is bad. There are laws.

[kelly1mm]

45. So...... you are agreeing that these protesters should pay about 40k each? nt

[AloeVera]

46. No.

There is such a thing as due process. Right?

Also we don't believe in collective punishment, right? Unless you're Israel of course. Then it's ok.

Let them have their day in court and determine who among them is responsible for the damage. That is how justice works, right?

[kelly1mm]

47. Lets assume they are found guilty (likely) and that UW can prove 1M in damages. You do understand the

legal theory of 'joint and several liability' right? Basically it means that is a group of people commit an act in which damages occur that any/all of those people can be held liable for the full amount of damages. So if one of these protesters had assets of 1M then UW could collect the entire amount from that one person.

The court system does not have to determine individual damage amounts per a persons actual actions. If you want to call this collective punishment you can but it is a common aspect of civil law.

Also I think you misunderstand the concept of civil disobedience. Part of that concept is accepting the legal consequences of your actions

[AloeVera]

48. Thanks for that legal advice.

You obviously know more about the legal stuff than I do.

But would this not fall under criminal, rather than civil law?

[kelly1mm]

49. It is both. They can be charged with crimes by the state and be ordered to pay restitution as part

of part of the criminal sentence.

They can also be sued civilly by UW which is basically automatic if they are criminally convicted (since the burden of proof is lower for a civil suit) in which the joint and several liability concept would come into play.

They could in theory be acquitted in the criminal cases but still be civilly liable ( for example OJ Simpson).

[AloeVera]

35. Lectures on the sanctity of law and the horror of PROPERTY DAMAGE are bitterly hilarious coming from Israel's supporters

The only crime that seems to matter and bring outrage for this contingent are the crimes - property mainly as there is little violence - of Palestinian supporters.

The horrific war crimes and crimes against humanity by Israel for 18 months - generations, actually - bring not a peep or tear.

Yet I'm glad to see talk of accountability and restitution. Look forward to their support for restitution by Israel of the $50 ++ BILLION in WILLFUL property damage in Gaza. More in the West Bank. I mean Israel is demolishing any homes left standing in Gaza as we speak and doing so shamelessly and in broad daylight. Where are the staunch defenders of the law and property rights when it comes to Palestinians?

There might even be hope of restitution and compensation for the homes and lands lost by Palestinians during the Nakba or Naksa.

But I'm kidding myself. Israel is not held to account, never has been and it seems never will be.

When the law is not applied equally, there is no justice - just a little reminder for everyone.

A reminder also that a HOME and a HOMELAND is worth more than pieces of equipment bought with the pocket-change blood-money of a weapons manufacturer. It's something that can never be replaced.

[Beastly Boy]

44. Did glorifying murder, rape, kinocide, torture and hostage taking escape your attention?

You didn't mention it in your post once, while describing hate speech in the course of a violent takeover of educational facilities and $40 million worth of damage as "little violence".

Care to comment on your unfortunate attention lapse without deflecting?

[Beastly Boy]

40. What the article neglected to report:

The occupation of the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building was led by the pro-Palestine student group Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return (Super UW). Super UW called for the protest in a manifesto published earlier in the day, in which the group also lauded the October 7 massacre.

"We are taking this building amidst the current and renewed wave of the student Intifada, following the uprising of student action for Palestine after the heroic victory of Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7th, which shattered the illusion of zionist-imperialist domination and brought Palestine to the forefront for all justice-loving people of the world," the manifesto said.

https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-852841

I wonder how many bleeding hearts will come out to defend these racist assholes.

[yagotme]

51. I'm guessing several will defend it. "Palestinian" is in the group's title, soooo... nt