SEATTLE—Approximately 500 attended a “United for Israel March” at the University of Washington, led by Pursuit Church NW, on Sunday, May 12, to take a stand against antisemitism that is plaguing the university’s campus. They were met with less than 200 pro-Hamas counter protesters whose faces were covered. The rally and following march were peaceful.
“What the Babylonian empire could not do, what the Assyrian empire could not do, what the German empire could not do, the antisemitic spirit on this college campus will not do,” Russell Johnson, Senior Pastor of Pursuit Church NW told hundreds of rallygoers in Red Square. “Israel is forever!”
Pastor Russell, called on University of Washington President, Anna Mari Cauce, to resign, stating she and her administration have been complicit to allowing antisemitism on the university’s campus.
“If the UW president won’t put an end to the vitriolic antisemitism on this campus, she should resign from her $900,000-a-year taxpayer funded job and go somewhere else,” said Pastor Russell.
Students at the University of Washington established an encampment on April 29, in a grass courtyard area called, The Quad, to protest Israel’s counter offense against Gaza. The encampment has grown to approximately 200 tents.
Its occupants demand that the university divest from Israel and Boeing, Washington state’s largest employer. Tactics used by students of this “autonomous zone” have been restricting the movements of Jewish students on campus and chanting what members of the Jewish community consider “genocidal” rhetoric.
Local journalist and Lynnwood Times contributor, Jonathan Choe, and his bodyguards, were physically assaulted while covering the Pro-Palestine encampment in the University of Washington’s Quad on Tuesday, May 7.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas, a terrorist organization that was voted into power by the Palestinian people of the Palestinian territories in 2006, led a series of coordinated attacks against Israel — on a Sabbath day and date of many Jewish holidays — killing over 1,000 Jewish civilians and approximately 350 Israeli soldiers.
Approximately 3,000 Palestinian militants infiltrated Israel from Gaza using trucks, powered paragliders, bulldozers, and speedboats, opening fire on Israeli civilians and setting homes on fire. Additionally, Hamas took approximately 240 Israeli hostages, 30 of which were children. Currently, 128 hostages are still being held by Hamas.
The October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas was the largest number of Jews killed on a single day since the Holocaust.
At least 44 nations considered the attack an act of terrorism but Hamas, and many Arab nations, blamed Israel saying the attack was provoked by Jewish settlements in the West Bank and in Gaza.
“Israel has the right to defend her borders and her people never again should face the threat of annihilation at the hand of their enemies,” said Pastor Russell.
He added, “The political cowardice of this Administration is on full display; either do your job or resign in disgrace, this encampment must end!”
Ari Hoffman, talk radio host of the Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI, shared the bravery of Dr. Hayim Katzman, who recently earned his PhD at the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington. He lost his life during the October 7 attacks while defending his wife and children.
“When on October 7, Hayim Katzman, an alum of the University of Washington was brutally slaughtered while he blocked a door giving his life to protect the woman and three children that were behind that door, there should be a statue of that brave man on The Quad, not a Hamas encampment,” said Hoffman.
During her annual President’s Address, Cauce condemned the Hamas attack on Israel while recognizing Katzman.
Randy Kessler, Regional Director at Stand with Us Northwest, along with a few others also spoke at the rally.
Originally the march was to go through The Quad, but the University of Washington barricaded the area and there was a strong law enforcement presence to curb any potential violence.
The group of about 500 pro-Israel supporters marched to the entrance of The Quad to protest the encampment where they faced off to approximately 200 pro-Hamas counter protesters behind barricades and law enforcement chanting, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, the occupation has got to go!”
Rallygoers countered chants with, “Bring them home”, “We will stand with Israel”, and “Take off your mask.”
The day of the rally was held, May 12, was also Memorial Day for Israeli soldiers where Israeli President Isaac Herzog hosted a ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
“I stand here, next to the remnants of our Temple, in torn garments. This tearing – a symbol of Jewish mourning, is a symbol of the mourning and sorrow of an entire people in this year. A year of national mourning,” Herzog said. “A symbol of a blood-drenched rend in the heart of the people. A tear in the heart of the State of Israel – shattered, bereaved, crying bitter tears, refusing to be comforted for its sons and daughters — soldiers and civilians, civilians and soldiers… a great tragedy has befallen us.”
Full Broadcast of the Rally
Reporting live at the United for Israel March at Red Square on the University of Washington campus that will conclude at the Pursuit Seattle campus. https://t.co/fPRC7iK8AH
— Lynnwood Times (@LynnwoodTimes) May 12, 2024
