EXCLUSIVE: Dem state senator urged University of Washington to protect antisemitic Gaza encampment, activists

In her email, obtained by The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI, Nobles referred to the encampment as a “peaceful demonstration” and praised the activists occupying UW’s Quad, comparing them to participants in civil rights movements. The letter made no mention of the violent, documented incidents of antisemitic behavior reported by Jewish students and media outlets.

Her message came in the wake of a visit to campus by Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, whose speech drew far-left agitators, including Antifa-aligned militants dressed in black bloc. That event escalated into violence: pro-Israel students were assaulted, and journalist Jonathan Choe, along with his security detail, were attacked while attempting to document the scene.

Shortly after Kirk’s appearance, footage recorded by Hoffman showed Jewish students being physically blocked by encampment members, prevented from moving freely on their campus. The scene drew national attention, with many Jewish leaders likening it to historic patterns of exclusion and persecution.

Despite mounting concerns, Nobles called on the university to “keep students safe and stay aligned with Washington state’s commitment to justice, equality, inclusion, and safety for all its residents,” but notably did not mention the attacks on Jewish students or advocate for their protection.

The tone and content of Nobles' letter bear a striking resemblance to another written by her Democratic colleague, State Senator Yasmin Trudeau, who has drawn criticism for a history of antisemitic rhetoric and associations.

Trudeau has publicly supported Gaza-based activists while failing to call for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. After scrutiny over her social media activity, much of it critical of Israel, Trudeau deleted her Twitter/X account, a move some believe may violate state record-keeping laws. She also pulled her endorsement of fellow Democrat Emily Randall after Randall dismissed a staffer who had liked pro-Hamas posts.

Trudeau’s connections include working as an aide to Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), who has referred to Israel as a “racist state,” and partnering with figures affiliated with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a group the US Department of Justice identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in the largest terrorism financing trial in American history.

She has appeared alongside activist Linda Sarsour, who was removed from the Women’s March for antisemitism, and endorsed CAIR-Washington’s Executive Director Imraan Siddiqi, even after his extremist rhetoric was exposed. Her network also includes Bothell Deputy Mayor Rami Al-Kabra, known for antisemitic posts and confrontations with Jewish activists, and Han Tran, a Northshore School Board member and state Human Rights Commissioner, who has echoed genocidal anti-Israel messaging since Hamas’ October 7 attacks.

Unlike Trudeau, Nobles previously showed support for Israel. In 2022, she traveled to the country with the American-Israel Friendship League and visited facilities treating victims of terrorism. She tweeted positively about the experience, thanking Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and even posing with Israeli soldiers.

However, her recent letter defending the encampment has raised questions about whether her stance on Israel has shifted under political pressure or progressive influence.

Meanwhile, the University of Washington continues to face national scrutiny for its handling of antisemitism on campus. The Trump administration previously launched a formal review of antisemitic violence at UW.

Since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, UW has repeatedly allowed radical groups to take over campus property, most notably allowing the Gaza encampment to occupy the university’s Quad for three weeks in spring, and in May, permitting Antifa militants to barricade and destroy more than $1 million worth of equipment inside a newly opened engineering building.

In response to these incidents, a joint statement from multiple federal agencies criticized UW’s lack of deterrent measures. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said: “The violence and chaos that ensued on the University of Washington’s campus is yet another horrifying display of the antisemitic harassment and lawlessness that has characterized many of our nation’s elite campuses over the last several years. This destructive behavior is unacceptable. The Task Force will not allow these so-called ‘protesters’ to disrupt campus life and deprive students, especially Jewish students who live in fear on campus, of their equal opportunity protections and civil rights.”

According to the task force, this enforcement action is being pursued under President Trump’s Executive Order titled “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism.” The aim is to safeguard the massive taxpayer investment in higher education and ensure that federally funded institutions comply with civil rights laws, including protections under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

In March, UW announced a hiring freeze for non-essential staff and new cost-cutting measures, citing concerns over potential losses in state and federal funding. The university receives approximately $1.37 billion in federal support annually and is one of 60 schools currently under investigation by the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights for Title VI violations relating to antisemitic discrimination.

Last year, UW was labeled one of the “most anti-Jewish” universities in the country after failing to adequately address antisemitism on campus in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks. The Anti-Defamation League gave the university a “D” grade in its national campus antisemitism report card, which evaluated 135 US schools.