Gaza camp protesters demand Charlie Kirk event be canceled at University of Washington

Gaza camp protesters at the University of Washington campus have demanded that the school cancel an upcoming event with Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. They claim his speech will be "endangering students."

The event is currently scheduled for Tuesday May 7 at 6:30 pm at the Husky Union Building, and was organized months before activists began occupying college campuses.

According to a UW spokesperson, representatives from the encampment and members of the university's administration have met twice for "initial conversations."

The group previously demanded that the school "materially and academically divest from Israel," "cut all ties with Boeing," and "end the anti-Palestinian repression of students, workers, and faculty."

A new demand has also been to allow the occupiers access to bathrooms in the school's buildings or to bring in porta-potties for the campers. The students want the school to materially support the protest against the university.

"Charlie Kirk's upcoming visit is currently a major topic of discussion, with many people within the liberated zone voicing safety concerns," said Sofia Schwartzwalder, news editor for the campus paper The Daily. Schwartzwalder said that the protesting students intend to bring up the TPUSA event with administrators during their next meeting.

Schwartzwalder added that the activists have "serious concerns regarding the potential of counter-protesters and/or other violence as a result of the event."

"Some UW students are calling on the university to cancel Charlie Kirk's event at the HUB Tuesday," said Hannah Kreig, a writer for the local far-left outlet The Stranger. "They believe he and the right-wing crowd he will attract may agitate the Popular University For Gaza in the quad, which has been peaceful and cooperative with admin."

However, the encampment has been anything but peaceful. Jews on campus have been prevented from walking through the area. Activists have harassed Jewish students with insults and have stolen and destroyed their Israeli flags.

On Sunday, Jonathan Choe, Senior Fellow for the Discovery Institute posted pictures of antisemitic and anti-cop vandalism on multiple buildings around the campus. An incident Saturday night saw reports of a man weilgin a blade and cutting up tents.

https://twitter.com/choeshow/status/1787201799767904758?s=20

Choe was assaulted at the encampment last week.

On Saturday, a call to action flyer began circulation on social media with an Antifa logo calling for activists to come to the event in "black bloc" to "disrupt, reject and oppose White Supremacy, Zionism, and Christian Nationalism."

The flyer also called Kirk a "Zionist, White Supremacist, Fascist and Christian Nationalist."

Antifa activists were spotted at the Gaza camp wearing black bloc last week. The small encampment was established on Monday, but by Wednesday over 150 activists had arrived, mostly outside agitators who are not students.

"The appearance may involve heavy security/police presence and if we've learned one thing from UCLA and Columbia (not to mention the history of protest LOL), cops escalate sh*t," Kreig said.

"We're having Charlie Kirk come to engage in debate and discussion about numerous topics," Rachel Anderson, Evergreen Regional College Field Representative for Turning Point USA told The Post Millennial. "The people occupying the quad are welcome to come to the event as long as they remain respectful. They will have an opportunity to ask Charlie a question."

Victor Balta, spokesman for UW, has continued to downplay the potential danger from the illegal occupation, saying in multiple statements that the university is "closely monitoring" the encampment on the Quad.

Over the weekend, as the encampment grew to over 120 tents, the school posted an update on its website. "In addressing the encampment, we will maintain our approach of a flexible, measured and appropriate response that addresses the circumstances of each situation. We will continue to prioritize protecting the physical safety of University community members and minimizing disruption to classes and other activities. Individuals and groups found to be violating laws and/or University policies are subject to discipline, following due process and in an appropriate time and manner."

The statement added, "UW will continue to focus on our mission – educating students, conducting world-changing research, serving patients and the public – and on protecting the physical safety of our community members."

In the meantime, weather conditions are "currently creating some issues in the zone," according to Schwartzwalder. "Wind is 15-17 mph with gusts up to 24 mph (via the National Weather Service). Poor conditions are expected to continue tomorrow with a chance of thunderstorms."