May 6, 2025
Statement on occupation of Interdisciplinary Engineering Building
Monday evening, a number of individuals temporarily occupied the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building and created a dangerous environment in and around the building. As law enforcement from several agencies assembled to respond, individuals who mostly covered their faces blocked access to two streets outside the building, blocked entrances and exits to the building and ignited fires in two dumpsters on a street outside. UW Police worked with law enforcement partners to contain the situation and began clearing the area outside the building around 10:30 p.m. before moving into the building to clear it at 11 p.m. About 30 individuals who occupied the building were arrested and charges of trespassing, property destruction and disorderly conduct, and conspiracy to commit all three, will be referred to the King County Prosecutor’s Office. Any students identified as being involved will also be referred to the Student Conduct Office.
The UW is committed to maintaining a secure learning and research environment, and strongly condemns this illegal building occupation and the antisemitic statement that was issued by a suspended student group Monday. The University will not be intimidated by this sort of offensive and destructive behavior and will continue to oppose antisemitism in all its forms.
