Pro-Palestinian protesters arrested after taking over UW building
Pro-Palestinian protests take place on Pacific Northwest campuses a year after nationwide unrest, with demonstrators expressing their support for Palestine and targeting a specific corporation. Also, the Trump administration offers a reward to undocumented immigrants who choose to leave the U.S. voluntarily. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
Protesters arrested after occupying University of Washington building
Riot police took several individuals into custody after pro-Palestinian protesters, demonstrating against the war in Gaza, occupied a building at the University of Washington in Seattle overnight.
The demonstrators occupied the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building and renamed it the Shaban al-Dalou building in opposition to the university’s ties to Boeing. They also blocked off streets and set fires to dumpsters.
Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return (SUPER) UW, known as “Super U-Dub,” claimed responsibility for the takeover.
Super U-Dub claimed Boeing spent $10 million on the new engineering building and alleged that some of this is connected to the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip due to Boeing’s defense contracts with the military and indirect support of Israeli defense forces.
Boeing is one of the largest defense companies in the U.S. It has a long history with the University of Washington.
‘No sense’ in engaging in further peace talks with Israel: Hamas
The protest arises following a Hamas spokesperson’s remark that there is “no sense” in pursuing truce negotiations with Israel at this moment. This statement comes after Israeli officials endorsed a plan to fully occupy the Gaza Strip for an undetermined duration, while Israel persists in obstructing food and humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza.
Israel’s new plan also calls for displacing “most” of Gaza’s residents.
Palestinian authorities have reported that Israeli attacks have killed nearly a dozen people across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday morning, May 6.
Israel has renewed its bombardment of the territory after a ceasefire deal with Hamas collapsed in March. Reports indicate that more than 70% of Gaza is now under Israeli control or subject to Israeli orders instructing Palestinian civilians to evacuate specific neighborhoods.
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Fifty-nine Israeli hostages remain in Gaza; none have been released since ground operations resumed in mid-March.
Israel announced the initiation of a new “forceful operation” aimed at eliminating Hamas and rescuing its remaining hostages. Over the weekend, Hamas praised the Houthis as “the twin of Palestine” after they launched a missile from Yemen that struck near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, leading to its temporary closure.
Hamas is still believed to be holding dozens of Israeli hostages who were seized during the terror group’s covert attack on Israel in October 2023. Many of the hostages are believed to be dead.
Trump administration launches self-deportation incentive program
The Trump administration has launched a new program aimed at accelerating the deportation of undocumented immigrants. The government said it will pay migrants living in the country illegally a $1,000 stipend if they self-deport and return to their home countries.
Straight Arrow News reporter Lauren Keenan explains an incentive that Homeland Security will implement to save taxpayers money by potentially having fewer raids and roundups here.
The Trump administration also said that individuals who register for self-deportation using the CBP Home app will be deprioritized for arrest and detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement “as long as they demonstrate they are making meaningful strides in completing that departure.”
Trump administration asks judge to toss lawsuit over access to abortion pill
The Trump administration asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit from three GOP-led states aiming to restrict telehealth access to the abortion medication mifepristone.
Justice Department lawyers wrote in a filing with the U.S. District Court in Amarillo, Texas, that the three states behind the lawsuit — Missouri, Idaho and Kansas — should not be able to do so in that court. The administration’s move backs a request initially made by the Biden administration in 2024.
Government lawyers stated that nothing prevents the states from filing the lawsuit elsewhere, but they assert that the venue must be related to the claims being made.
The lawsuit from Idaho, Kansas and Missouri argues that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should restrict access to mifepristone. They filed their complaint after the Supreme Court preserved access to mifepristone in 2024.
They want the FDA to prohibit telehealth prescriptions for mifepristone, require three in-office visits before it can be prescribed and restrict the point in a pregnancy when it can be used.
Defense secretary orders military to cut 20% of its highest-ranking leaders
In an attempt to eliminate excessive bureaucracy, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has instructed military leaders to reduce the number of four-star generals by 20%. The administration anticipates that this will enhance efficiency. Hegseth also ordered the National Guard to reduce one-fifth of its senior roles and directed the military to decrease the number of its general and flag officers by 10%.
The Military Times reported that the U.S. has a total of 800 generals, of which 44 are either four-star generals or flag officers. The Pentagon faces the same pressures as other departments due to government cuts, driven by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Last week, Hegseth ordered sweeping changes to the U.S. Army.
In this case, he said the cuts will remove “redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership.”
Trump announces 2027 NFL draft will be in Washington, DC
Although the 2025 National Football League (NFL) draft has just concluded, the league and football fans eagerly anticipate not next year’s draft, but the one in 2027.
President Donald Trump, the NFL and Washington, D.C. are organizing a march of a million football fans. During a joint press conference at the White House on Monday, May 5, Trump announced that the NFL draft will take place at the National Mall in 2027.
“The draft is a celebration of one of our country’s most cherished cultural institutions and the annual highlights for football fans everywhere,” Trump said. “Everyone in the world is going to be watching.”
Straight Arrow News sports reporter Chris Francis discusses how the 2027 draft will intersect sports and politics here.
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