Opinion column by KVI morning show producer, Phil Vandervort:
More and more images of the vandalism and individual behavior at the University of Washington occupied protest are pouring in with the benefit of social media. KVI morning show producer, Phil Vandervort, has compiled several images and videos from just the last few days to understand the situation on the Seattle campus after three weeks of the occupied protest, which supporters call “The Popular University For Gaza Liberated Zone”.
KVI’s afternoon host, Ari Hoffman, photographed this violent message spray painted on the base of the George Washington Statue on the campus outside Meany Hall Performing Arts Center.
Just a casual d*ath threat in the vandalism this morning at @UW pic.twitter.com/akhQb4AufM
— Ari Hoffman (@thehoffather) May 15, 2024
Threatening to kill someone doesn’t exactly sound like protected speech under the First Amendment of The U.S. Constitution.
Hoffman has documented other provocative graffiti messages that have vandalized the campus.
Almost every building at @UW was vandalized overnight by Little Gaza in a "major escalation"
A meeting is expected today about the future of the camp
So antisemitism, assaults, discrimination, theft, etc aren't an escalation but vandalism is their red line
Are we still… https://t.co/rNpeb5xis5 pic.twitter.com/tEBuxtwI67
— Ari Hoffman (@thehoffather) May 15, 2024
As the above message indicates, the escalation of the graffiti prompted the accompanying advisory among UW administrators and staff as reported by the editor of the UW student newspaper “The Daily”, Sofia Schwarzwalder.
More examples of vandalism and graffiti at the UW campus this week. In the post below, look for the series of graffiti messages captured in the photo on the lower right corner. Click the post below and then click the individual pictures to read the protest messages for yourself.
Graffiti messaging removal underway – police/security here for removal – more UW buildings clearly tagged overnight – The Daily reporting VP of Office of External Affairs calling it a shame what’s happens to campus regarding graffiti #komonews pic.twitter.com/ZhAL2BN7gd
— Michelle Esteban (@MichelleKOMO) May 15, 2024
More anger and vitriol aimed at Jews in Israel…
Latest spray paint graffiti on a school building at the University of Washington campus. This place is a mess. @UW pic.twitter.com/E0caGmwoNb
— Jonathan Choe (@choeshow) May 12, 2024
This video embedded below shows the alarming disregard the occupied protesters have towards Seattle news media. Watch how the four occupied protesters accost or enable the intimidation of a Seattle TV news photographer for Fox 13.
#BREAKING: Antifa militants armed with weapons harass and assault press at @UW Gaza camp.
They shined green lasers in his eyes which can cause permanent blindness.pic.twitter.com/nICOZzXWPN
— Katie Daviscourt 📸 (@KatieDaviscourt) May 16, 2024
It’s no wonder the people involved in the UW occupied protest want to cover their faces and avoid being photographed. The circumstantial evidence indicates they don’t want to be connected to the property damage or violent threats piling up on the UW campus.
There’s been a consistent debate about whether or not the UW occupied protest (as well as other campus protests at US universities and colleges) consists of actual students or outsiders who are career activists and demonstrators well beyond the typical age of a university student. If the four individuals above are actually enrolled as University of Washington students and they behave that way toward a visitor on campus, let alone a news photographer, the UW administrators need to seriously consider suspension and probation for its reflection on the students the university admits for higher education at the flagship public university in the Pacific Northwest.
The preceding thoughts and words posted between these images and video are the sole conclusion of KVI morning show producer, Phil Vandervort, who speaks for nobody but himself.
P.S. Have a nice day.
