SEATTLE, Washington — Nearly three dozen anti-Israel protesters have been charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass after occupying and vandalizing a science building at the University of Washington, causing estimated damages of $1 million. The King County Prosecutor's Office confirmed that 33 individuals were charged on Tuesday, more than 300 days after the group occupied the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building, blocked entrances, and set fire to two trash cans outside the facility. Authorities stated there was insufficient evidence to pursue felony charges related to property destruction. A spokesperson for the prosecutor's office said that if enough evidence existed, they would file corresponding criminal charges, but prosecution decisions must be based on available evidence. The decision to only pursue misdemeanor charges has met with backlash from some members of the campus Jewish community, who argue the legal response is disproportionate to the level of damage caused. Among the 33 arrested, 23 are students at the university. According to a University of Washington spokesperson, these students are nearing the end of a one-year suspension, and the misdemeanor charges will not prevent them from returning to their studies. The occupation occurred in May 2024 when a group of students calling themselves "Super UW" demanded the university cut ties with Boeing due to the corporation's defense contracts with the U.S. military and its support for the Israel Defense Forces. Boeing donated $10 million to the university in 2022 and maintains operations in the region. Seattle Police and campus security forces dispersed the protesters less than 12 hours after they entered, but trash can fires and internal vandalism had already taken place. The University of Washington condemned the vandalism at the time and declared it would not tolerate any expressions of hate on campus. The federal government also announced it is reviewing allegations related to antisemitic behavior at the school.

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