UW encampment organizers reach agreement to disband by Monday afternoon
Organizers of the encampment at the University of Washington have reached an agreement with the university to disband by Monday afternoon.
The Popular University for Gaza “liberated zone” will fully disband by Monday at 3 p.m. The deal also means the encampment will not be reestablished.
The encampment has occupied the University’s ‘Quad’ for more than two weeks.
In a statement from the University of Washington United Front for Palestinian Liberation, organizers said in part:
“We are under no illusions that this agreement is a win. The only true win is Palestinian liberation. Many of our demands remain unfulfilled as the UW has shown clear reluctance to make even the smallest progress towards reducing our complicity in the ongoing genocide in Palestine. The UW has demonstrated its commitment to neoliberal values, war profiteers, and facilitators of oppression over the calls of its students, faculty, and workers. UW would rather maintain the status quo than stand against genocide.”
Click here for UW United Front for Palestinian Liberation’s full response and details of the resolution.
“We’re not taking this as a victory, this is one step in the right direction,” said Yospeh Ghazal with the UW Liberated Zone.
Ghazal says Friday’s deal is not their end game.
“You’ve seen the unity on this campus, you’ve seen the strong support of divestment. Now it’s time for them to take that and make a decision,” he explained.
In the short time the encampment has existed, it grew to more than 100 tents with a couple counter-protests and graffiti on school buildings.
“These are displays of art and frustrations, expressions of people’s first amendment rights,” said Ghazal.
Since last week, with the University of Washington had been asking protesters to voluntarily disband citing security concerns.
In a statement Friday, the University of Washington said in part:
“The university administration has a long history of engagement and dialogue with its students on issues they care deeply about. These discussions are not always easy, but they are essential to learning, understanding, and collective action.
We are committed to ongoing and constructive engagement on issues that are important and meaningful to our students and broader campus community.”
Click here for UW’s full response and details of the resolution.
Parts of the agreement include:
Increasing transparency around its investments with companies like Boeing and major weapons manufacturers
UW will fund at least 20 scholarship for Palestinian students displaced from Gaza
UW will meet with student representatives to consider a request to explore divestment
“It happened in the school, I think it’s important, it should be remembered but I think it takes its toll and I think it’s time has come,” said student Joshua Leichty.
Leichty supports the right to protest, but believes it got out of hand at times.
“With the counter protests that happened a few weeks ago, that’s crazy. I mean, I actually had friends who had gotten hurt in that,” Leichty explained.
He says the message was made clear and hopes to see unity on campus.
“It’s really hard to see the kind of divisiveness that’s been happening over these last few weeks. And I am glad in that respect that it is kind of dying down so kind of make this a safer place for a lot of people coming through the quad.”
According to the University of Washington:
With a commitment from students, faculty, staff and community supporters to voluntarily end the encampment on a permanent basis the university will:
Forgo referrals for citations or conduct violations for camping.
Consider the commitment to voluntarily end the encampment a significantly favorable mitigating factor in the resolution of any student conduct matters related to the encampment.
The University will follow its non-retaliation policies with respect to students, staff and faculty who participated in the encampment.
