Antisemitism at UW Draws Fire from Jewish Federation
The fallout from the disrupted September 12, 2024 University of Washington (UW) Board of Regents meeting continues to reverberate. In a forceful response, the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) condemned the incident and called for action to address antisemitism on UW campus.
At the meeting, anti-Israel demonstrators shouted down Jewish speakers, including Solly Kane, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, forcing the meeting to adjourn. Anti-Israel protestors were so aggressive that the Board of Regent and Jewish speakers required police escorts out a back entrance for their safety.
Jewish Federation of North America Calls for Accountability at UW
JFNA Chair Julie Platt and CEO Eric D. Fingerhut labeled the disruption “one of the most vile, outrageous displays of antisemitism to be witnessed at a public meeting in the United States of America in recent memory.” In a public letter to WA State Governor Jay Inslee they demanded:
A public apology to Seattle’s Jewish community.
Disciplinary action against those responsible for the disruption.
A renewed commitment to address antisemitism at UW and ensure the concerns of Jewish students are heard.
“The safety of Jewish students and the right to free speech must not be negotiable,” JFNA emphasized, calling the university’s inaction “a stain on the reputation of the State of Washington”.
Governor Inslee was conspicuously silent throughout an entire year of unchecked antisemitism on campus. However, the egregious nature of events which had now moved beyond the Jewish community, apparently moved him to respond. with a statement, “In Washington state, we reject bigotry, incitement of hatred, and the demonization of religion,” Inslee said, adding that UW must do more to protect Jewish students and uphold the values of respect and inclusion.
Next Steps
A special meeting of the UW Board of Regents has been scheduled online to continue the interrupted agenda, but many remain skeptical of meaningful progress. In a further statement building on his testimony at the chaotic Board of Regents meeting, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle CEO, Solly Kane reiterated his call for the UW to enforce its own rules, be transparent about the handling of incidents, and create accountability for those responsible for fostering a hostile environment.
This incident is just underscores the urgent need for UW to take action. As JFNA stated, “Nothing short of real accountability can restore confidence in the university’s integrity or its commitment to free speech and mutual respect.”
