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Vandalism, assault reported as pro-Palestinian encampment continues at WWU


A pro-Palestinian encampment has grown on the campus of Western Washington University since it first took hold on May 14. (KOMO)
A pro-Palestinian encampment has grown on the campus of Western Washington University since it first took hold on May 14. (KOMO)

Acts of vandalism and even a reported assault are being investigated at Western Washington University (WWU) as pro-Palestinian protesters continue to maintain an encampment and push a list of demands for the school’s administration to meet.

The camp on the Old Main Lawn has grown considerably since the tents first went up on May 14 as protest leaders keep a high-profile on campus but remain peaceful.

“I want to continue to center our message on the students and all the people in Gaza who are currently being massacred, enabled by this university and our government,” said Mosley-Jackson Lerner, a WWU junior who has been involved with the encampment from the outset. “There's an incredible gathering of support and power that is happening on this lawn and with what we're doing here."

University officials are holding regular meetings with the group and even some Jewish students said they respect the effort by their classmates.

“It seemed peaceful and non-violent and I applaud that and I expect it to continue as such," said Johnny Cook, a senior who is also a member of Hillel of WWU.

While common ground is sought on the demonstrators' demands, Western is also investigating a possible hate crime involving a Jewish student who was spat on and then followed while passing the tents, according to campus police. It's one of a number of incidents detailed on the WWU police blotter.

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The alleged assault happened on May 17 but the student has since decided against filing a police report and there is no longer an open criminal case, WWU communications director Jonathan Higgins wrote in an email in response to a KOMO News inquiry.

Regardless, Higgins said the reported assault is receiving the university’s “full care and attention, and student support professionals are engaging to support the student and family. The University Police Department and our Office of Civil Rights & Title IX Compliance are investigating this incident.”

There have also been more than a dozen acts of vandalism around the campus since the encampment was formed. Messages such as “Free Gaza,” “Free Palestine,” and “All Eyes on Rafah” have been spray-painted on buildings and campus vehicles. WWU police said a fountain was also damaged.

Will Simon, a sophomore and member of Hillel of WWU, said the defaced buildings stir strong emotions.

“It’s very humiliating and it brings up a lot of bad memories,” Simon said. “I had to deal with a lot of antisemitism growing up and it's sad to see it here but I'm glad I have a very good Jewish community around me to help me out here."

Protest organizers said these reported crimes in no way reflect their efforts.

“All of the acts of vandalism are completely separate from what we are doing here. They go against our community guidelines,” Lerner said.

Officials at Western added that there is no confirmation that the incident involving the Jewish student was committed by encampment protestors, and the organizers have told officials that they do not condone this behavior.

A rabbi who works on campus said Western is failing to protect its students and opening the door for problems to escalate.

“It's an allowance for students to say, 'Hatred of Jews is not so bad. If it was a bad thing the school would do something,'" said Rabbi Avremi Yarmush, director of the Rohr Center for Jewish Life. “I haven’t seen any real action that is being taken to promote safety for Jewish students, for non-Jewish students, for anybody."

Protesters said there may be tensions within the student body but they believe in their cause and plan to stay the course.

“There's a lot of talk about having the encampment be taken down before graduation and I think it's important to recognize that there are no graduates in Gaza,” said Reina, a WWU junior and protest organizer who declined to give her last name.

School officials said safety teams and campus police are monitoring activities in and around the camp to maintain peace and order. Another round of talks between administrators and protest leaders is scheduled for Friday.

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