SEATTLE — Several University of Washington buildings were tagged with pro-Palestinian messages overnight into Wednesday, which an administrator referred to as a “major escalation” in an internal email obtained by The Daily newspaper. Nearly all major buildings were spray painted, some with “antisemitic slogans,” the email said.
Images of the graffiti painted on several buildings showed messages including “viva Palestina” and “long live the resistance.” The university did not immediately clarify which messages Office of External Affairs Vice President Randy Hodgins was referring to as antisemitic in his email.
“It will take days to clean all of this graffiti and it’s a shame what has happened to our campus,” Hodgins wrote.
Tensions on campus have escalated since a protest encampment was established about two weeks ago, including as outside groups — like some attendees of a right-wing activist’s talk and pro-Israeli demonstrators with a church — have clashed with members of the encampment.