Pro-Hamas Protesters Cause $1M in Damage to UW Engineering Building

On May 5, 2025, masked anti-Israel protesters from Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return (Super UW) occupied the University of Washington’s newly opened Interdisciplinary Engineering Building, causing over $1 million in damage, as reported by The Seattle Times. The 75,000-square-foot facility, partially funded by a $10 million Boeing donation in 2022 and valued at $102 million, houses advanced manufacturing equipment for multiple engineering departments.

Around 5:00 p.m., approximately 40 protesters, demanding the university sever ties with Boeing over its military contracts with Israel, barricaded entrances with furniture and e-scooters, tore doors off hinges, glued others shut, smashed costly CNC machine tools, and defaced a Boeing mural. Outside, they blocked two streets, set dumpsters on fire, and issued a manifesto claiming the building would no longer “fund genocide.”

University police, backed by Seattle Police in riot gear, cleared the building by 11:00 p.m., arresting 34 individuals on charges of trespassing, property destruction, and disorderly conduct. University President Ana Mari Cauce condemned the occupation, stating, “This was no peaceful protest in support of Palestinian rights. I condemn this dangerous, violent, and illegal act.” On May 26, Super UW demanded all charges and suspensions be dropped, alleging the university’s Boeing partnership makes it complicit in “the genocide of the Palestinian people” and criticizing the lack of due process for suspended students.

Boeing, a major employer of UW engineering graduates, has donated over $100 million to the university over the past century. The incident reflects a worrying surge in campus protests since the October 7, 2023. Similar protests at UCLA and Columbia have also targeted institutional ties to Israel-linked companies, often resulting in arrests and property damage. The university is assessing repair costs and reviewing security measures, while the incident has sparked debates over free speech, protest tactics, and university-industry partnerships.