Pushing past University of Puget Sound (UPS) Faculty, around 50 protestors marched down the aisle of Schneebeck Hall at UPS. Being flung into walls and each other by University faculty, protesters persisted in making their way onto the stage. Their chants echoed through the room, magnified by a bullhorn, “Hey Derek Kilmer you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide.”
UPS student protesters prematurely ended a speech on the need for greater civility in U.S. political life that Kilmer, a Democrat representing Washington’s Sixth District, was scheduled to give at the Susan Resneck Pierce Lecture. The Pro-Palestine protesters, organized by the UPS chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (UPSSDS), entered the building against explicit direction from UPS admin to not interfere with the event. “The administration expected us to compromise our values by having ‘open discussions’ surrounding the acceptability of genocide,” said UPSDS in an Instagram post following the protest. UPSDS continued, “[T]here is no meeting in the middle, you cannot compromise when it comes to the murder of countless people.”
“As students, it is paramount to use our privilege to condemn injustice…we must push for our voices to be heard in the continuing fight for liberation,” read a statement UPSDS posted on their Instagram page.
Former News Tribune publisher David Zeeck, who attended the event stated “They took the stage, using a bullhorn and chanting slogans and stamping their feet in time.”
The event was canceled immediately following the protesters entering the hall. Protesters continued their protest even after the lights and microphone were turned off. Frontline protester and UPS student Nani Tafilele said that a purposeful blast of sound was emitted through the speaker system on stage in an effort to disperse them from the area. The force of the sound caused one protester to fall to the floor convulsing and another to be hospitalized due to injuries sustained from the boom.
University Chaplain Dave Wright was also hospitalized due to a “multiple strains and sprains and a “closed-head brain injury,” according to a post made by Wright on his Facebook page.
The protest aimed to send the message that to there are not two sides to a conversation when it comes to the genocide Israel is perpetuating against Palestinians, according to Tafilele. “You don’t value life in the Middle East so you don’t get to speak about it,” said Tafilele referencing Kilmer.
Kilmer has been an outspoken Pro-Israel politician who recently voted for several bills that showed support for Israel.
The most notable bill Kilmer voted for was House Resolution (H.R.) 5961. The later half of the bill states, “That only the unconditional surrender of Hamas and other Iran-backed terror groups will save innocent civilian lives.”
Additionally, Kilmer supported H.R. 894 which asserts “That anti-Zionism is antisemitism,” as well as voting for H.R. 5894 that prohibits “Funding under this Act from going toward colleges and universities that authorize, facilitate, provide funding for, or otherwise support any event promoting antisemitism on campus.” In short, Kilmer voted to withhold funding from universities that enable Anti-Israel protesting in any way. This kind of protesting is often equated to mean pro-Palestinian.
“Their actions on Wednesday made the case for my remarks – and for more civil discourse – better than I could have,” said Kilmer in a press release following the protest. Kilmer’s offer to speak with protesters prior to his speech was rejected by protesters.
“To those who created this disruption last night, know that shutting down speech only demonstrates an inability to listen to different viewpoints and engage in productive dialogue, which is a fundamental aspect of a liberal arts education. That this action was taken at an event specifically focusing on building bridges across differences is profoundly ironic and disappointing.” said UPS President Isiaah Crawford in an email to the UPS campus community.
In response to the protests, Crawford acknowledged students’ right to protest, but that infringing on someone’s right to speak is “unacceptable.”
Praising UPS staff who attempted to stop protestors from entering the building, Crawford stated, “We fully support staff who helped ensure the safety of guests at the Pierce Lecture against any unfounded criticism levied against them.” Crawford also said that “anyone who has violated the Student Integrity Code, Code of Conduct, Faculty Code, or other relevant university policies, including prohibitions against violence, harassment and discrimination, will be held appropriately accountable”
“Due to privacy considerations for both students and staff, it (the investigation) likely will not be releasing details of the investigation to the public.” said Director of Media Relations Veronica Craker.
Crawford’s show of support for staff comes after video footage taken by protesters as they entered the building showed UPS employees blocking the entryways with their bodies and physically assailing others. One individual identified as Senior Associate Dean for Student Experience, Student Involvement & Programs, Moe Stephens II is seen grabbing and throwing student protesters against the wall and into fellow protestors as they pushed to enter the building in an attempt to block their entry.
Six members of the WA Chapter Black Panther Party were in attendance to act as security for the protestors. Ovunayo X, one of the Panther Party members in attendance, emphasized that the protesters were peaceful the entire time in spite of physically hostile UPS security and faculty. Referencing Stephens, “When the person decided to spot being hostile everything remained peaceful,” said X.
According to Tacoma Police Department (TPD) Public Information Officer Shelbie Boyd, there were no arrests made, nor were they aware of any injuries. TPD was present to help assess the situation, monitor protester social media and communication, and help keep people safe.
“The email that recounts the protests is cap,” said Tafilele, “It simmers down the atrocities happening in Gaza and criminalizes protesters. We the protestors know what’s happening in Palestine. Show enough light on it, institutions come through on who they are.”
Alumni and current students of UPS have sent out a petition calling for: an apology from Crawford, Stephens, and UPS Director of Security Services Dave Ferber (who allegedly also engaged with hostility towards student protesters) “to students who were injured as a result of University staff behavior.” The petition also demands that UPS not retaliate against student protesters, cover the cost of medical expenses for injured protestors, provide transparency on all money that funds Israel’s genocide, and “That the University of Puget Sound demand an immediate ceasefire to stop the genocide committed by the Israeli government against Palestinian people.” Additionally, the petition calls for a withholding of all donations to UPS until the demands are met.
Echoing sentiments expressed by Crawford in response to the protest, UPS Chair of the Board of Trustees Beth Picardo said, “Protestors do not have the right to infringe on the rights of others to speak and be heard – on campus or anywhere else – nor do they have the right to create a hostile environment for other campus members.”
Leading up to the protest UPS students voiced their anger at Kilmer being chosen as the speaker. President Crawford met with students and compromised by providing space for protesters to voice their anger in a parking lot near the hall Kilmer was set to speak in.
Pro-Palestine anti-genocide protests have been a regular occurrence at UPS in the months following Israel’s military response to the 7 October attack by Hamas.
Stay tuned as this story continues to develop.
