The Departments of Education (ED), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced Tuesday a joint review into recent incidents of anti-Semitic violence that occurred at the University of Washington (UW) and its affiliates.
The announcement comes one day after a tumultuous protest on the UW campus in Seattle, where demonstrators protesting the university’s ties to Boeing engaged in acts of vandalism, property destruction, and allegedly made death threats towards law enforcement.
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According to the Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, the unrest erupted on Monday, May 5th, when pro-terror protestors demanded UW divest from Boeing due to the company’s military contracts related to the Gaza conflict. The Task Force reported that these individuals barricaded and occupied an engineering building for several hours, set property on fire, and directed death threats at responding law enforcement officers.
The Task Force acknowledged the university’s statement condemning the previous night’s violence and commended the swift action taken by law enforcement to remove individuals engaged in violent behavior from campus. However, the Task Force emphasized that further action is expected from the institution. They stressed the need for UW to implement enforcement actions and policy changes to effectively deter future violence and ensure a safe and productive learning environment for Jewish students.
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U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon expressed deep concern over the events, stating, “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. This destructive behavior is unacceptable. 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.”
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., echoed these sentiments, asserting, “No institution that tolerates violence, harassment, or the open intimidation of Jewish students should expect to receive billions in taxpayer support. This isn’t about politics—it’s about whether a federally funded university is upholding the law, protecting civil rights, and fostering a safe environment for all students.”
GSA Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner and Task Force Member Josh Gruenbaum added, “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. 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. 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 that mandate.”
This review by the Task Force follows similar actions recently undertaken at Columbia University and Harvard University. The enforcement action is being carried out pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order titled “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism.”
The Task Force’s stated mission is to safeguard taxpayer investments in U.S. higher education and to ensure that federally funded institutions meet their legal and ethical obligations to prevent anti-Semitic harassment. The outcome of the review and any potential consequences for the University of Washington remain to be seen.
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