The University of Washington has suspended 21 students and banned them from campus after a pro-Palestinian protest escalated into a building occupation that led to 31 arrests and more than $1 million in property damage.

The demonstration began Monday evening, when dozens of protesters seized the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building on UW’s Seattle campus. Participants barricaded entrances, blocked streets, and set dumpster fires, prompting a lockdown and a multi-agency police response. Law enforcement cleared the building after several hours, arresting individuals on charges including trespassing, vandalism, and disorderly conduct.

University officials described the event as “dangerous, violent, and illegal,” citing vandalized equipment, defaced murals, and fire hazards inside and outside the building. The protest group, identified as Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return (SUPER UW), said the occupation was in opposition to the ongoing war in Gaza and issued a statement that praised the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks—remarks condemned by university leadership as antisemitic.

The protest has drawn national scrutiny, prompting a federal civil rights review by the Trump administration’s Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. The task force is pressuring UW to take additional steps to protect Jewish students and prevent future campus disruptions. In response, UW says it is cooperating fully and pointed to recent efforts to improve campus climate, including new oversight roles, anti-discrimination training, and policy updates.

Governor Bob Ferguson and Attorney General Nick Brown both supported the university’s response and law enforcement actions, stressing the need to balance free speech with public safety and legal accountability.

The Interdisciplinary Engineering Building remains closed, and additional disciplinary actions are expected in the coming weeks.