Dueling Israel/Palestine protests on UW campus remain peaceful
Around 500 people gathered in Red Square on the University of Washington campus Sunday afternoon for a “United for Israel” march, the largest counter demonstration at UW since students established their “Popular University for Gaza” in early May.
While the student encampment is demanding the UW cut ties with Israel and Boeing, speakers at the pro-Israel march and rally called for University President Ana Mari Cauce to resign and condemned administration for allowing the encampment to remain on campus.
The event was led by Pursuit NW, a nondenominational Christian church with locations in Snohomish, Kirkland and on Greek row in the U District. The church’s head pastor, Russell Johnson, has voiced staunch support for Israel in the past few months and has been involved in multiple pro-Israel demonstrations on campuses including the University of Southern California and Columbia University, where multiple instances of harassment were reported. Johnson is based in the Seattle area.
“The political cowardice of this administration is on full display. Either do your job or resign in disgrace, this encampment must end,” Johnson said Sunday afternoon to a cheering crowd of demonstrators. “Isn’t it time that we say enough is enough?”
https://crosscut.com/news/2024/05/dueling-israelpalestine-protests-uw-campus-remain-peaceful