Federal Agencies Launch Probe Into Anti-Semitism at University of Washington

According to the school, 34 individuals, including students, have been arrested and will face criminal charges and disciplinary actions following a protest.

Washington State Patrol Troopers watch as demonstrators gather to protest in support of causes that include the Palestinians, immigration, labor, and the environment, at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, on March 12, 2025. David Ryder/Reuters

Federal agencies announced on May 6 that they are reviewing “recent incidents of anti-Semitic violence” at the University of Washington (UW) and its affiliates following a protest demanding that the university sever ties with Boeing over its contracts with Israel.

The Department of Education, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) said in a statement that the Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism launched the probe in response to the “eruption of anti-Semitic harassment and violence” during the unrest at UW on May 5, when protesters allegedly shouted “death threats” at law enforcement officers.