UW clears pro-Palestinian encampment after weeks of tension and vandalism concerns

SEATTLE — A pro-Palestinian encampment has been cleared from the University of Washington (UW) campus as part of a resolution between the encampment's leadership and the UW Administration.

The agreement to clear the encampment came nearly three weeks after it began in late April. The encampment went from about 100 tents to zero shortly before the 3 p.m. Monday deadline. The University of Washington United Front for Palestinian Liberation said encampment members voted in favor of it but stopped short of calling the resolution a win.

Those living in the encampment agreed to remove all the tents, belongings, signage, and trash. Graffiti remains on several buildings, including the sidewalk that crisscrosses the Quad. By noon on Monday, about a dozen tents remained as people living in the encampment worked to break them down, exposing squares of brown grass marking each tent's footprint.

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The brokered agreement came after increased safety concerns and an escalation in graffiti on campus buildings.

In a letter to students, faculty, and staff on Friday, UW President Ana Mari Cauce wrote she was concerned about escalating safety concerns the longer the camp persisted and the sometimes vile rhetoric employed that created a very unwelcoming environment.

Last Wednesday described some of the graffiti tagged on numerous school buildings and sidewalks as antisemitic and violent. She twice asked the encampment leaders to voluntarily dismantle the encampment, which consumed the majority of UW Quad, a green space known for its cherry blossoms.

Reaction was mixed from students passing through the Quad Monday. Some said they respected the protesters for standing up for what they believe in.

RELATED:UW, pro-Palestinian protesters reach agreement to take down encampment in the Quad

I think it's neat that people are involved and care about what is happening overseas, and if you look at things from a global scale, every problem is our problem," said Alyssa, a UW freshman who didn't want to share her last name. "I'm happy people came to a compromise.

But for a Senior from Israel set to graduate from the UW in June, the encampment has been difficult.

I would say I'm infuriated with it. I walked through the first day, and I tried to talk to people. I wanted to have a conversation, but the second I said I was from Israel or grew up in Tel Aviv, people surrounded me, physically pushing me out, yelling the most obscene things.

For UW parents Jennifer and Mark Trapnell, the encampment removal was long overdue. Jennifer sent two letters raising safety concerns and the antisemitic graffiti to UW's president, calling on UW to remove the encampment.

They've worried about their daughter Eve's safety on campus. Eve is a freshman majoring in engineering who told KOMO News in early May that she felt as if some of the protesters were trying to intimidate her for writing 'I love Israel' on the quad sidewalk and for trying to create a dialogue with some of the protesters. She said she asked to learn more about the encampment from people living in the tents, but she was told to visit the encampment's media tent. She said her writing about Israel was removed by people in the camp.

I think our biggest concern is that our daughter is feeling intimidated walking through campus," said Mark Trapnell, "The good thing is our daughter seems pretty resilient. She's a strong personality. Not everybody on the campus has that same type of personality. So, a lot of people are even more intimidated than she is. But I think we're mostly hearing one side, and not just at the UW but across the country about this, and this conflict.

Jennifer Trapnell shared with KOMO News two letters that she emailed (one as early as May 7) to Cauce raising safety concerns, citing the antisemitic graffiti and calling on the university to remove the encampment. She said she has yet to receive a response.

"I don't understand why the vandalism it took to that time for them to finally listen. I just don't think here the consequences are good enough. There's no, there are no consequences here," Jennifer said.

The camp's removal was part of an agreement reached Friday between the protesters and the UW administration. UW President Ana Mari Cauce asked the encampment twice to voluntarily dismantle due to safety concerns, but that didn't happen.

Last Friday, both sides announced the resolution had been reached, and the encampment members would remove the encampment, which had grown to about 100 tents since April 29.

If the protesters agreed to clear the encampment, the university listed 14 mutually agreed actions, including:

• Waive tuition for at least 20 Palestinian students from Gaza.
• Add representatives to any divestment committee
• Review study abroad programs.
• And not cite campers

Unauthorized camping is a university code violation.

"They don't address the issue as far as what's going on with antisemitic on the campus. It seems that there are no consequences for having the encampments and the intimidation of students," said Jennifer Trapnell.

In an online post, Cauce wrote, "The University will forgo referrals for citations or conduct violations for camping. Any other violations of law and policy, such as for vandalism, harassment, or discrimination, will continue to be investigated and acted on accordingly."

The Trapnells are relieved the encampment is gone but worry about what happens next. The protesters reiterated that they do not believe the resolution is a win.

"I hope that we can, we can all, you know, come together and find some sort of amicable way to resolve this. I think everybody hopes for that because, in the end, we all want the same thing. We, you know, want to live peacefully in freedom.," said Mark Trapnell.