We, the undersigned School of Social Work alumni, students, and faculty, stand in solidarity with the students of the University of Washington who are bravely protesting in encampments and otherwise to condemn Israel’s ongoing military destruction of Palestine and Gaza, amounting to countless human rights violations and genocide.

We commend the students who are exercising their right to protest peacefully despite an overwhelming atmosphere of pressure, intimidation, and retaliation, to raise awareness about Israel's assault on Gaza – with U.S. weapons and funding. These students have come forth with clear demands that the University of Washington materially and academically divest from Israel, cut ties with companies such as Boeing that profit from Israel’s occupation of Palestine, and end the repression of pro-Palestinian students, faculty, and community members. The students’ courage and determination in the face of adversity inspire us all to take action and speak out against injustice wherever it occurs. As they risk everything right now, it is critical that all of us do everything we can to support them.

We join them in calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire and an end to the U.S. government's and institutions' role in the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

As social workers, we are committed and ethically mandated to engage in social and political action that seeks to ensure basic human needs and promote social justice. We stand in solidarity with the students protesting on the University of Washington campus, reaffirm our commitment to amplifying their voices, and ask that the university negotiate with students in good faith to meet their demands.

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*This statement was adapted from the “Statement in solidarity with student protests for Gaza,” authored by MPower Change available here, with their permission.