A Night of Unrest at the University of Washington
On the evening of May 6, 2025, the University of Washington (UW) campus in Seattle became a battleground of ideologies as Antifa militants, protesting Israel’s actions in the ongoing Gaza conflict, took over parts of the campus. A striking image captured by 15News at 06:21 UTC shows a group of masked individuals standing shoulder-to-shoulder in front of a glass building, illuminated by the faint glow of streetlights and the red-and-white reflections from inside. The accompanying post reported that the protesters had set multiple fires, prompting authorities to issue an order to disperse. This event marks a significant escalation in the wave of pro-Palestinian protests that have swept across U.S. campuses since the intensification of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023.
This 4,000-word article delves into the details of the University of Washington protest, its broader context within the Israel-Palestine conflict, the role of Antifa, the demands of student activists, and the ripple effects on campuses nationwide. We’ll also explore the historical backdrop of campus activism, the legal and disciplinary challenges faced by protesters, and the societal implications of these demonstrations in 2025.
The Incident: Antifa Takes Over UW Campus
The 15News post on X paints a vivid picture of the unrest at the University of Washington. The image shows a group of individuals, many wearing dark clothing and masks, standing in a line as if forming a human barricade. Some appear to be holding flags, including one that resembles the Palestinian flag, visible on the far right of the image. The scene is tense, with the glass building behind them reflecting the lights of what appears to be a campus facility, possibly an administrative or student center.
According to the accompanying text, the protesters were Antifa militants demonstrating against Israel. The group allegedly set multiple fires on campus, an act that likely heightened the urgency of the authorities’ response. The order to disperse suggests that the situation had escalated to a point where law enforcement deemed it necessary to intervene, potentially due to safety concerns or property damage. While the exact scale of the fires and the extent of the damage remain unclear from the post, the involvement of Antifa—a loosely organized, far-left militant group known for its confrontational tactics—adds a layer of complexity to the event.
This protest is not an isolated incident but part of a broader wave of activism that has gripped U.S. college campuses in recent years. The University of Washington has been a focal point for such demonstrations, particularly since the intensification of the Israel-Hamas conflict following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel. That attack, which killed 1,195 Israelis and foreign nationals and saw 251 people taken hostage, sparked a massive Israeli military response in Gaza. According to Wikipedia, over 52,000 Palestinians have been killed since the offensive began, with more than half being women and children, and over 110,000 injured. These staggering numbers have fueled global outrage and galvanized pro-Palestinian movements worldwide, including on U.S. campuses.
The Broader Context: Pro-Palestinian Activism on U.S. Campuses
The University of Washington protest is part of a larger movement of pro-Palestinian activism that has gained momentum on American college campuses since late 2023. As reported by KING5, UW students have been vocal in their demands for the university to cut ties with Israel and companies like Boeing, which has a long-standing presence in Israel and has supplied military equipment used in the conflict. Protesters set up encampments in the university’s Quad, vowing not to leave until their demands were met. Their grievances extend beyond Israel’s actions in Gaza to what they perceive as the university’s complicity in silencing Palestinian voices on campus.
This wave of campus activism echoes similar movements at other institutions. For instance, The Guardian reported on a pro-Palestinian encampment at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, which was disbanded by police on May 3, 2025, resulting in the arrest of nine activists. The Swarthmore protesters demanded that the college divest from Cisco, a tech company with ties to the Israeli government. The crackdown at Swarthmore, which included the temporary suspension of some students, reflects a broader trend of universities responding with disciplinary action to pro-Palestinian protests. According to The Guardian, Palestine Legal received over 2,000 requests for legal assistance in 2024, with two-thirds coming from students, staff, or faculty on college campuses. This surge in legal requests underscores the intensity of the movement and the challenges faced by activists.
The demands of these protesters are rooted in a desire for their institutions to take a moral stand against what they see as complicity in Israel’s actions. At UW, the focus on Boeing is particularly significant. The company, a major employer in the Seattle area, has maintained offices in Israel since 1969 and has been involved in supplying GPS-guided bomb kits to Israel, according to Bloomberg. For many activists, Boeing’s involvement in the conflict makes it a symbol of the military-industrial complex that they believe perpetuates violence in Gaza.
Antifa’s Role: A Controversial Presence
The involvement of Antifa in the University of Washington protest adds a polarizing dimension to the event. Antifa, short for “anti-fascist,” is a decentralized movement known for its militant tactics, including direct action, property destruction, and physical confrontations with perceived fascist or oppressive entities. While Antifa often aligns with leftist causes, its methods have sparked debate, even among those who share its ideological goals. Critics argue that Antifa’s actions, such as setting fires, alienate potential allies and escalate conflicts unnecessarily. Supporters, on the other hand, view Antifa as a necessary counterforce to systemic oppression, willing to take risks that others shy away from.
In the context of the UW protest, Antifa’s presence likely amplified the intensity of the demonstration. The group’s history of clashing with authorities and its association with property damage may have contributed to the decision to issue a dispersal order. This is not the first time Antifa has been involved in pro-Palestinian activism at UW. In May 2024, Turning Point USA reporter Jonathan Choe and his security guard were attacked by Antifa members near a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus, an incident that highlighted the volatile atmosphere surrounding these protests.
Antifa’s role also raises questions about the broader dynamics of the protest movement. While many student activists are focused on peaceful demonstrations, encampments, and divestment campaigns, the involvement of a group like Antifa can shift the narrative, drawing attention to more confrontational tactics. This dynamic often complicates the public perception of the movement, with some viewing the protests as a legitimate expression of dissent and others seeing them as a threat to campus safety and order.
The Israel-Hamas Conflict: A Global Crisis Fueling Local Action
To understand the University of Washington protest, we must examine the broader geopolitical context of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The war, which began on October 7, 2023, with a surprise attack by Hamas-led militant groups, has been one of the deadliest chapters in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to Wikipedia, the initial attack killed 1,195 Israelis and foreign nationals, including 815 civilians, and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Hamas’s stated goal was to force Israel to release Palestinian prisoners, but the attack triggered a massive military response from Israel.
Israel’s retaliation included an intensive bombing campaign and a ground invasion of Gaza starting on October 27, 2023. The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, formed a war cabinet with the objectives of destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages. However, the campaign has come at a staggering cost to Palestinian civilians. As of May 2025, over 52,000 Palestinians have been killed, with more than half being women and children, and over 110,000 have been injured. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than a million Palestinians have been displaced, and entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble.
The scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has sparked widespread outrage and protests around the world, including in the United States. On college campuses, students have been at the forefront of this activism, drawing parallels between their efforts and historical movements like the anti-Vietnam War protests and the anti-apartheid divestment campaigns of the 1980s. For many, the Gaza conflict is not just a distant war but a moral imperative that demands action, particularly from institutions like universities that they believe are complicit through their financial ties to Israel or its allies.
The Demands: Divestment and Accountability
At the heart of the University of Washington protest—and similar demonstrations across the country—are a set of specific demands. Protesters at UW have called for the university to cut ties with Israel and Boeing, as well as to stop silencing Palestinian voices on campus. These demands reflect a broader movement among student activists to hold their institutions accountable for their investments and partnerships.
The call to divest from Israel is part of a larger Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to pressure Israel economically and politically to end its occupation of Palestinian territories. On campuses, this often translates into demands for universities to divest from companies that do business with Israel, such as Boeing, Cisco, and others involved in military or technological support for the Israeli government. At Swarthmore College, for example, protesters targeted Cisco due to its ties to Israel, as reported by The Guardian.
The demand to stop silencing Palestinian voices speaks to a broader concern about censorship and suppression on campuses. Many activists feel that universities have been quick to crack down on pro-Palestinian speech, often under the guise of preventing antisemitism. While criticism of Israel is not inherently antisemitic—as noted by a protester in the KING5 report—the conflation of the two has led to tensions on campuses, with some students facing disciplinary action for their activism.
The Crackdown: Universities Respond with Force
The University of Washington protest, with its fires and dispersal order, is just one example of how universities and law enforcement have responded to pro-Palestinian activism. Across the country, institutions have taken a hard line against such protests, often citing safety concerns or violations of campus policies. At Swarthmore College, the disbanding of a pro-Palestinian encampment on May 3, 2025, led to the arrest of nine activists and the suspension of some students. Similarly, at Tulane University, seven students faced suspension or expulsion for attending an off-campus protest, according to The Guardian.
These crackdowns have had a chilling effect on student activism. The Guardian reports that Palestine Legal received over 2,000 requests for legal assistance in 2024, with many coming from students who faced disciplinary action for their involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. The consequences for these students can be severe, ranging from suspension to expulsion, loss of financial aid, and even legal repercussions. For first-generation and low-income students, such as EK from Swarthmore College, these penalties can be particularly devastating, as they often rely on university support to continue their education.
The harsh response from universities has also drawn criticism from activists and civil rights groups, who argue that it stifles free speech and disproportionately targets Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students. Organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have launched initiatives to document and address these incidents, including a website where students can report their campuses for targeting pro-Palestinian protesters.
Historical Parallels: Campus Activism Through the Ages
The current wave of pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. campuses is not without precedent. Universities have long been hotbeds of political activism, serving as stages for movements that challenge the status quo. The anti-Vietnam War protests of the 1960s and 1970s, for example, saw students across the country mobilize against U.S. military involvement in Southeast Asia, often facing violent responses from authorities. The 1970 Kent State shootings, in which four students were killed by the National Guard during a protest, remain a stark reminder of the risks of campus activism.
Similarly, the anti-apartheid movement of the 1980s saw students pressure their universities to divest from companies doing business with South Africa’s apartheid regime. That movement, which gained significant traction on campuses like UC Berkeley and Columbia University, ultimately contributed to global pressure that helped end apartheid. The parallels between these historical movements and the current pro-Palestinian protests are striking: in both cases, students have used their campuses as platforms to advocate for justice on a global scale, often at great personal risk.
However, there are also key differences. The current protests are taking place in a digital age, where social media platforms like X amplify their reach and impact. The 15News post, for example, was shared widely, bringing attention to the University of Washington protest in real time. At the same time, the digital age has also heightened the scrutiny faced by activists, with universities and authorities using online evidence to identify and discipline participants.
The Role of Social Media: Amplifying the Message
Social media has played a crucial role in the 2025 campus protests, both in mobilizing activists and in shaping public perception. The 15News post on X, with its dramatic image and breaking news caption, is a case in point. By sharing the protest in real time, the post brought immediate attention to the events at the University of Washington, likely influencing how the public and media framed the story.
For activists, platforms like X provide a way to bypass traditional media gatekeepers and share their message directly with the world. Pro-Palestinian student groups often use social media to organize events, share updates, and document instances of repression by universities or law enforcement. At the same time, social media can also be a double-edged sword, as it provides authorities with a wealth of evidence to use against protesters. In the case of the UW protest, the 15News image could potentially be used to identify participants, especially those who were unmasked or holding identifiable objects like flags.
The viral nature of social media also means that events like the UW protest can quickly become part of a larger narrative. Hashtags like #FreePalestine and #DivestFromIsrael trend alongside images and videos of campus demonstrations, creating a sense of global solidarity among activists. However, this visibility can also lead to backlash, as critics of the movement use the same platforms to condemn the protests as antisemitic or disruptive.
The Societal Implications: A Divided Nation
The University of Washington protest, and the broader wave of pro-Palestinian activism on U.S. campuses, reflects deeper divisions within American society. The Israel-Palestine conflict has long been a polarizing issue, with strong opinions on both sides. For supporters of Israel, the country is a democratic ally in a volatile region, facing existential threats from groups like Hamas. For critics, Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute a disproportionate and unjust response, amounting to what some describe as genocide.
These divisions play out on campuses, where students, faculty, and administrators often find themselves at odds. Jewish students and organizations have expressed concerns about rising antisemitism, pointing to incidents where criticism of Israel has crossed into harassment or threats. At the same time, Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students report feeling targeted and silenced, as universities crack down on their activism under the guise of maintaining order.
The involvement of Antifa further complicates the narrative, as the group’s militant tactics polarize public opinion. While some view Antifa as a necessary force against oppression, others see it as a violent and destabilizing presence. This divide is emblematic of broader tensions in the U.S., where issues of free speech, protest, and political violence remain hotly contested.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Campus Activism
As of May 2025, the pro-Palestinian movement on U.S. campuses shows no signs of slowing down. The University of Washington protest, with its fires and Antifa involvement, may mark a turning point, signaling a shift toward more confrontational tactics. At the same time, the crackdowns at institutions like Swarthmore and Tulane suggest that universities are doubling down on their efforts to suppress such activism, potentially driving the movement underground or into more radical forms of resistance.
The demands of the protesters—divestment, accountability, and an end to the silencing of Palestinian voices—are unlikely to be met without significant pressure. Universities, wary of alienating donors, alumni, and political stakeholders, often resist calls for divestment, as seen in UW’s brief and noncommittal statement in response to the Quad encampment. However, the persistence of the movement, coupled with growing public awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, may eventually force a reckoning.
For now, students continue to bear the brunt of the consequences. The Guardian’s reporting on the life-changing impacts of disciplinary action—suspension, expulsion, loss of financial aid—highlights the personal toll of this activism. Yet, for many, the stakes are too high to remain silent. As one Swarthmore student, identified only as Q, told The Guardian, the fight for Palestinian rights is worth the risk, even in the face of police sweeps and university reprisals.
Conclusion: A Movement at a Crossroads
The University of Washington protest on May 6, 2025, captured in the 15News X post, is a microcosm of a larger struggle playing out across the United States and the world. It reflects the deep anger and frustration felt by many over the Gaza conflict, as well as the determination of students to hold their institutions accountable. At the same time, it underscores the challenges of activism in an era of heightened surveillance, disciplinary crackdowns, and societal polarization.
As the Israel-Hamas war continues to claim lives and displace millions, the voices of student activists will remain a critical part of the global conversation. Whether their demands for divestment and justice are met remains to be seen, but their willingness to risk suspension, arrest, and even violence speaks to the urgency of their cause. The University of Washington protest, with its fires and Antifa militants, may be a harbinger of more unrest to come—a reminder that the fight for justice, on campus and beyond, is far from over.