Jewish Groups Urge Governor Jay Inslee to Respond After Students ‘Evacuated’ from Meeting Due to Protests

WASHINGTON — (VINnews) A large Jewish advocacy group is urging Democratic Governor Jay Inslee to take action after Jewish students, faculty, and community members were “evacuated” from a meeting at the University of Washington. The administration handed over the building to anti-Israel protesters.

At a meeting of the university’s board of regents,the protesters shouted down speakers who were there to testify about the antisemitism Jewish students face on campus, as well as BDS support.

🧵EXCLUSIVE: Jewish students and community members, @UW faculty, administration and Board of Regents were evacuated today after anti-Israel activists took over a meeting

The antisemitic activists were not removed and staged a sit in pic.twitter.com/PWwxkXHDg0

— Ari Hoffman (@thehoffather) September 12, 2024

One of the speakers was Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle CEO Solomon Kane whose “remarks were met with one of the most vile, outrageous displays of antisemitism to be witnessed at a public meeting in the United States of America in recent memory,” said Jewish Federations of North America Chair Julie Platt and President and CEO Eric D. Fingerhut in the letter to Inslee.

They added, “To make matters worse, the board, a public body duly chartered by the State of Washington, did nothing to remove the disrupters, but instead chose to adjourn the meeting rather than to ensure the right of this speaker and the others who had planned to speak to proceed. The board has so far taken no legal or disciplinary action against the disrupters,” and noted that Kane had to be escorted by police from the premises for his physical safety.

The letter concluded, “These are all basic expectations that shouldn’t need to be requested. Nothing short of these steps can hope to restore confidence in the integrity of the university or its intention to uphold the values of free speech, mutual respect, and opposition to antisemitism that are cornerstones of American civil society.”

Inslee and Washington’s Democratic Attorney General Bob Ferguson, both UW alumni, have been slammed for their inaction and silence as antisemitism has spread not only on the campus but across the state.

Outgoing Board of Regents Chair David Zeeck and Incoming Board of Regents Chair Blaine Tamaki spoke with Seattle radio host Ari Hoffman.

In a statement to the show on Talk Radio 570 KVI, they said, “Speakers addressing labor issues and those calling for divestment from Israel had spoken without interruption, but when Jewish speakers opposed to divestment and concerned about antisemitism on campus began their comments, protestors repeatedly interrupted and shouted them down. Despite repeated warnings to stop and clear the room, protestors continued their chants to shut down the meeting.”

Last school year Jewish students and faculty were harassed and blocked from walking on campus, Israeli and American flags were stolen and destroyed, antisemitic slurs were used against Jewish students, buildings were vandalized with antisemitic and anti-cop graffiti, and vigils and rallies were held for terrorists.

Students who engaged in vandalism and antisemitic attacks suffered no disciplinary action.