Jewish Voices Silenced at UW Board of Regents Meeting

The September 12, 2024 University of Washington (UW) Board of Regents meeting devolved into chaos as anti-Israel protestors heckled Jewish speakers, who had come to discuss the rise of antisemitism on campus during scheduled public comment. The meeting commenced with lengthy comments by speakers who testified on behalf of unions and demands for BDS, all of which proceeded without interruption. However, once the Jewish speakers began their testimony, protestors repeatedly shouted them down, mocked mentions of antisemitic incidents, and ignored repeated warnings from board leadership to stop interrupting.

Six Jewish speakers testified, including UW Jewish alumni, Hannah Nash ‘24, who was heckled repeatedly when she shared her experiences of a hostile campus environment. Protestors accused her and other speakers of “genocide” and “fascism” and cheered at the mention of Hamas. Ultimately, Board Chair David Zeeck, apparently recognizing that there were not enough campus police on hand to enforce the University’s own stated rules, adjourned the meeting, after which Board members and the Jewish community had to be escorted out a back door.

“We were there calling on the UW leadership to do better in the school year ahead, and yet they were not even able to ensure civility in a regularly scheduled board meeting,” wrote Solly Kane, CEO and President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle in a blistering letter explaining what happened to the community and calling on them to take action. The UW subsequently issued an apology to the Jewish community committing to further action.

After a year of inaction, the community remains skeptical. “The safety of the Jewish community is non-negotiable. The University of Washington’s inaction is setting a dangerous precedent, not only for us but for the broader community. What happens on this campus ripples into our schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods,” Kane emphasized.