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Police clear protesters from Portland State University library

Police officers struggle with a protester.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff 
/
OPB
Police detain and arrest a person who attempted to escape Portland State University’s Branford Price Millar Library, May 2, 2024. People protesting Israel's role in the war in Gaza had occupied the library since Monday evening.

After a dayslong occupation by protesters at the Portland State University library, city officers cleared people from inside and outside of the building Thursday morning.

Activists opposed to Israel’s role in the ongoing war in Gaza took over the library Monday night. Since then, university and city officials told protesters several times that they must leave, or they could be arrested. PSU President Ann Cudd said Wednesday that anyone inside the library was criminally trespassing.

Over the past week, demonstrators called for Portland State to cut ties from companies connected to Israel, among other demands.

Portland police announced just after 10 a.m. Thursday that they had finished their removal of those still gathered in the library.

Protesters flee library


Several dozen protesters fled the PSU library shortly before 9 a.m., briefly gathered on the building’s steps, and then quickly darted in different directions through campus.

Minutes later, more than a dozen state troopers in riot gear pulled up and joined officers already on campus.

It appeared that protesters left the library from a different exit than where police had entered.

At Southwest Montgomery Street and Southwest 10th Avenue, near the library, another group of more than 50 demonstrators linked arms chanting “let them go,” in reference to at least two people arrested by Portland police. The protesters appeared to be attempting to block the police from leaving the area with arrested demonstrators, but a police van and several squad cars were able to leave around 9:45 a.m.

PSU president responds


In a statement, Cudd expressed gratitude to city and state police and other leaders.

“What we’ve seen take place so far on the Park Blocks, while distressing to see, has been peaceful and calm overall, which is an immense relief,” Cudd said. “The safety and well being of our campus community is our top priority.”

Cudd said police entered the library “only after extensive negotiations using faculty members as intermediaries.”

Cudd did not indicate when campus would reopen, but said PSU looks forward “to opening our campus to all students as soon as possible.” The school announced earlier Thursday that it would be closed for the day.

Police enter library


Earlier Thursday morning, police announced they would clear out the people who were still in the library. Several blocks around the library were closed as police began the operation just after 6 a.m. They estimated it would take hours — it lasted four.

Police shared on X, formerly Twitter, that officers were inside the library at 7:47 a.m. Thursday. Officers confirmed shortly afterward that they had arrested two people outside of the library. No additional details were released.

Police used a fire escape to get into the building, according to journalists with the student-run PSU Vanguard, and some officers were carrying chainsaws.

Portland police also said on X around 8:10 a.m. that officers in the library were armed with “40mm less-lethal launchers,” which the department says are tools for public events and regular patrol. In the same post, Portland police said officers did not have tear gas inside the library.

PSU issued a shelter-in-place alert for two student residence buildings close to the library, Montgomery and Blackstone halls, around 9 a.m.

Response to protests


Aiden Griffen is a sophomore at PSU and lives close to the library. He said he’s been watching the protests unfold and supports some aspects of the demonstrations.

“While they were protesting peacefully there was a lot of support for the protesters,” Griffen, 20, said. “The library break-in was a real tipping point — I and a lot of other people lost favor with them and now really are not fans of what’s going on. Some people, though, are still in support.”

Gov. Tina Kotek issued a statement Thursday morning that, in part, addressed the “acts of vandalism seen this week at the Portland State University library and against nearby businesses.”

“These actions are in direct opposition to Oregon values and threaten working people, families, businesses, and our community as a whole. The Oregon State Police have launched a response on the outer perimeter of Portland State University. The state is prepared to exercise the full extent of the law,” Kotek stated.

Tension spills into the streets


As police cleared the PSU library, there were some altercations between protesters and officers. Demonstrators attempted to block police from arresting protesters along Southwest Broadway.

Police eventually made it through the crowd but had to escort vehicles through the crowd as they chanted “let them go, let them go” and “hands off students, hands off students.”

Protesters used trash and recycling can and attempted to block the road. In the activity, several people were pepper sprayed and at least one glass bottle was thrown at the police line.


Copyright 2024 Oregon Public Broadcasting

Portland police carry a suspected protester away from the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Police converged on the PSU campus and library early in the morning to clear protesters who'd occupied the library since Monday night.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff /
Portland police carry a suspected protester away from the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Police converged on the PSU campus and library early in the morning to clear protesters who'd occupied the library since Monday night.
Portland police walk a suspected protester away from the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Police converged on the PSU campus and library early in the morning to clear protesters who'd occupied the library since Monday night.
Conrad Wilson /
Portland police walk a suspected protester away from the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Police converged on the PSU campus and library early in the morning to clear protesters who'd occupied the library since Monday night.
People help someone who got pepper-sprayed in the face at the Portland State University campus on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Portland police formed a perimeter early in the morning around the school's library to remove protesters US involvement in Israel's role in the ongoing war in Gaza.
Conrad Wilson /
People help someone who got pepper-sprayed in the face at the Portland State University campus on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Portland police formed a perimeter early in the morning around the school's library to remove protesters US involvement in Israel's role in the ongoing war in Gaza.
People line up behind a police barricade to voice disapproval of Portland police arresting protesters in the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024. At least one person is holding a sign indicating they are PSU faculty.
Conrad Wilson /
People line up behind a police barricade to voice disapproval of Portland police arresting protesters in the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024. At least one person is holding a sign indicating they are PSU faculty.
Portland police form a perimeter around the Portland State University campus on Thursday, May 2, 2024, as people converge on the area to object to the arrest of protesters occupying the school's library.
Conrad Wilson /
Portland police form a perimeter around the Portland State University campus on Thursday, May 2, 2024, as people converge on the area to object to the arrest of protesters occupying the school's library.
A person helps another who got pepper-sprayed in the face at the Portland State University campus on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Portland police formed a perimeter early in the morning around the school's library to remove protesters US involvement in Israel's role in the ongoing war in Gaza.
Conrad Wilson /
A person helps another who got pepper-sprayed in the face at the Portland State University campus on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Portland police formed a perimeter early in the morning around the school's library to remove protesters US involvement in Israel's role in the ongoing war in Gaza.
Protesters place recycling bins on a street to block traffic near the Portland State University campus on Thursday, May 2, 2024.
Conrad Wilson /
Protesters place recycling bins on a street to block traffic near the Portland State University campus on Thursday, May 2, 2024.
Protesters line up near corner of Southwest Harrison Street and Southwest Broadway Avenue in downtown Portland on Thursday, May 2, 2024, to block the passage of a van.
Tiffany Camhi /
Protesters line up near corner of Southwest Harrison Street and Southwest Broadway Avenue in downtown Portland on Thursday, May 2, 2024, to block the passage of a van.
Protesters line up near corner of Southwest Harrison Street and Southwest Broadway Avenue in downtown Portland on Thursday, May 2, 2024, to block the passage of a van.
Tiffany Camhi /
Protesters line up near corner of Southwest Harrison Street and Southwest Broadway Avenue in downtown Portland on Thursday, May 2, 2024, to block the passage of a van.
Protesters gather at the corner of Southwest Montgomery and Southwest 10th Avenue in downtown Portland on Thursday, May 2, 2024, to block the street so police could not leave with people they had arrested.
Conrad Wilson /
Protesters gather at the corner of Southwest Montgomery and Southwest 10th Avenue in downtown Portland on Thursday, May 2, 2024, to block the street so police could not leave with people they had arrested.
Portland police walk across the Portland State University campus on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Police converged on the PSU campus and library early in the morning to clear protesters who'd occupied the library since Monday night.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff /
Portland police walk across the Portland State University campus on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Police converged on the PSU campus and library early in the morning to clear protesters who'd occupied the library since Monday night.
Portland police form a perimeter around the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024, while other officers clear protesters from the building. People opposing US involvement in Israel's role in the ongoing war in Gaza took over the library Monday, leading to a standoff with police and university officials.
Conrad Wilson Conrad Wilson /
Portland police form a perimeter around the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024, while other officers clear protesters from the building. People opposing US involvement in Israel's role in the ongoing war in Gaza took over the library Monday, leading to a standoff with police and university officials.
Portland police approach people Thursday, May 2, 2024, on the Portland State University campus. Police cleared protesters from the PSU library early in the morning.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff /
Portland police approach people Thursday, May 2, 2024, on the Portland State University campus. Police cleared protesters from the PSU library early in the morning.
Portland police form a perimeter around the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024, while other officers clear protesters from the building. People opposing Israel's war in Gaza took over the library Monday, leading to a standoff with police and university officials.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff /
Portland police form a perimeter around the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024, while other officers clear protesters from the building. People opposing Israel's war in Gaza took over the library Monday, leading to a standoff with police and university officials.
Portland police form a perimeter around the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024, while other officers clear protesters from the building. People opposing Israel's war in Gaza took over the library Monday, leading to a standoff with police and university officials.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff /
Portland police form a perimeter around the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024, while other officers clear protesters from the building. People opposing Israel's war in Gaza took over the library Monday, leading to a standoff with police and university officials.
Portland police form a perimeter around the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024, while other officers clear protesters from the building.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff /
Portland police form a perimeter around the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024, while other officers clear protesters from the building.
Police gather outside the Branford P. Millar Library and Portland State University in Portland, Ore., Thursday, May 2, 2024. Police announced they plan to remove protesters from the library Thursday morning. People opposed to Israel's war in Gaza have occupied the library since Monday.
Conrad Wilson /
Police gather outside the Branford P. Millar Library and Portland State University in Portland, Ore., Thursday, May 2, 2024. Police announced they plan to remove protesters from the library Thursday morning. People opposed to Israel's war in Gaza have occupied the library since Monday.
Portland police form a perimeter around the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024, while other officers clear protesters from the building.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff /
Portland police form a perimeter around the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024, while other officers clear protesters from the building.
Cardboard covers a broken window on the Portland State University campus on Thursday, May 2. 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff /
Cardboard covers a broken window on the Portland State University campus on Thursday, May 2. 2024.
A protester holds up a sign on the Portland State University campus on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Portland police form a perimeter around the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024, while other officers clear protesters from the building.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff /
A protester holds up a sign on the Portland State University campus on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Portland police form a perimeter around the Portland State University library on Thursday, May 2, 2024, while other officers clear protesters from the building.
Police speak with people at Blackstone Hall on the Portland State University campus in Portland, Ore., Thursday, May 2, 2024. Police issued a shelter-in-place order for Blackstone and Montgomery halls as they cleared anti-war protesters from in and around the Millar Library nearby.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff /
Police speak with people at Blackstone Hall on the Portland State University campus in Portland, Ore., Thursday, May 2, 2024. Police issued a shelter-in-place order for Blackstone and Montgomery halls as they cleared anti-war protesters from in and around the Millar Library nearby.
Dozens of people filled the streets outside Portland State University Thursday, May 2, after police cleared the campus library of protesters who had occupied the building since Monday.
Conrad Wilson /
Dozens of people filled the streets outside Portland State University Thursday, May 2, after police cleared the campus library of protesters who had occupied the building since Monday.

OPB Staff
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