Demonstrators Set Up Encampment at Western Washington University in Bellingham

Western Washington UniversityPhoto byAndrew Kvalheim

BELLINGHAM, Washington - Western Washington University's Bellingham campus is currently experiencing an encampment demonstration located on the Old Main lawn. The demonstration, comprising approximately 20 tents and 50-60 individuals, is reported by the university to be peaceful at the moment.

Despite the demonstration, classes and services at the university are continuing as usual. For updates on the situation, the university advises checking the 'Campus News and Information' section at on their website.

The campus advisory published by WWU did not directly state who the demonstrators are and what cause they are demonstrating for, but we can only speculate that it is a pro-palestine protest, as universitys across Washington State, and the United States are experiencing campus protest against the Israel-hamas war.

Though the protest may be peaceful right now, these things tend to go "south" real quick when outside agitators want in on the action. Bellingham experienced this back in 2020 & 2021 when Camp 210 at the Bellingham civic center intially contained local individuals, and that all changed one day when Black bloc militant-style anarchists arrived in Bellingham and caused chaos as scene on Police BodyCam.

The current demonstation is not of concern, as it is mostly peaceful and non-disruptive to students access to the campus, the main concern would be the potential growth of the camp, again similar to that of Camp210, the larger the occupation gets, the easier it becomes for outside agitators to blend in with the crowd and begin causing chaos.

The aftermath of the UCLA occupation showed exterior devastation to the building, including grafitti, garbage, j-rigged barriers made of freight pallets and other "home improvement"materials.

The encampment demonstration at Western Washington University's Bellingham campus is a developing story, and further updates will be provided as the situation unfolds.