Protesters establish camp at Washington University to oppose Gaza conflict and call for disassociation from Boeing

Community activists and students made a bold statement on Saturday at Washington University in St. Louis by setting up a camp to demand an end to the war in Gaza and calling for the university to divest from Boeing Co., a major supplier of military equipment to Israel. The encampment was a response to similar protests at other colleges and universities across the United States.

Retired St. Louis County resident Ed “Bongo” Herhold, 70, emphasized the moral imperative of the protest, stating, “It’s the morally right thing to do.” He criticized the university’s response to previous protests on campus, comparing it to the actions taken against Vietnam War protesters.

The protesters, numbering around 300, pitched about 10 tents outside Olin Library, drawing the attention of curious students studying inside. After being warned by police to disperse, the protesters moved to Tisch Park on campus and set up tents again. Chants of “WashU you can’t hide, you support a genocide” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” echoed through the campus.

The demands of the protesters included cutting ties with Boeing, Israeli educational institutions, dropping charges against previous protesters, and condemning the ongoing genocide in Palestine. The standoff between protesters and police continued for over half an hour, with organizers seeking a dialogue with university representatives.

The protest, which began in Forest Park and culminated on the university campus, highlighted the growing student activism in response to the Israel-Hamas war. The protesters’ determination to make their voices heard reflects a broader trend of social and political engagement on college campuses.