Trump admin launches antisemitism probe at University of Washington after massive anti-Israel protest
The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it will review “anti-Semitic violence at the University of Washington (UW) and its affiliates” after anti-Israel demonstrators took over a science building at the school and lit fires on campus. “The violence and chaos that ensued on University of Washington’s campus is yet another horrifying display of the antisemitic harassment and lawlessness which has characterized many of our nation’s elite campuses over the last several years,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. “This destructive behavior is unacceptable,” she added.“The Task Force will not allow these so-called ‘protesters’ to disrupt campus life and deprive students, especially Jewish students who live in fear on campus, of their equal opportunity protections and civil rights.”The Monday protest, organized by Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return (SUPER), saw members of the anti-Israel student group seize UW’s Interdisciplinary Engineering Building — blocking access to the facility — and set two dumpsters on fire as they allegedly praised Hamas’ Oct.
7 terrorist attack that killed more than 1,200 people and saw another 251 kidnapped.Seattle police arrested 30 individuals allegedly involved in the protest. “The despicable events that occurred at the University of Washington are another disturbing example of how institutions are failing to protect their communities from radical and dangerous harassment,” Trump administration antisemitism task force member and General Services Administration Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum said in a statement. “We are thankful to local law enforcement for responding; that doesn’t absolve the university for allowing the ground to grow fertile for anti-Semitism,” he added.“The Task Force has a clear mandate — to ensure institutions that receive federal funds are fully complying with civil rights laws — we will use every tool available to fulfill t...