Pro-Palestinian protestors at Portland State University broke into and occupying university library

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Police Bureau hosted a press conference late Monday night to address pro-Palestinian protests at the Portland State University (PSU) campus. 

PSU President Ann Cudd revealed that a “group of individuals” broke into the Millar Library at Portland State University on Monday evening, and some were blocking access to the library. This followed a peaceful rally on campus Monday afternoon.

Cudd said the university was asking Portland Police to remove the trespassers from the library. Police did not give a timeline when that would happen and asked protesters to leave peacefully.

In relaying a timeline of events, Cudd stated that on Thursday, protesters began gathering in the South Park Blocks near the Portland State Campus. They were asked to leave the park Thursday and Friday nights when the park closed. The protesters then relocated to the library portico.

“I met with the protesters and talked to them. I asked them who they are, they said they were faculty, staff and students but also community members at that time,” said Cudd. “I asked them to let us have access to the library open to vacate part of the portico. I felt that they should be able to make their points known at that point and they agreed to that.” 

Cudd noted that leadership did not take any immediate action against the encampment over the weekend to avoid escalating the situation. She said by Monday morning the encampment had grown and has resulted in “much greater property damage” and “intimidation” of the campus community. 

“Portland State University supports free speech, that’s what we’re all about. And we know that this issue, the war in Gaza is important to many individuals in our community, emotions are running high. Many injustices are just too large to ignore and I understand this but I cannot condone or excuse breaking and entering. I cannot condone the property damage that has taken place at PSU’s library,” said Cudd. “I’ve proven that I’m wiling to entertain debate and discuss the protesters but I would ask them now to choose to engage civilly on these issues rather than to resort to violence and property damage.”

She says, PSU Police were unable to enter the building to stop “individuals”. PSU leadership has since asked for assistance from Portland police to remove the protesters. Cudd also asked students inside the library to leave peacefully before police get involved.

RELATED: ‘Trying to thread a fine line’: Portland State University president responds to pro-Palestinian student encampment

Portland Police Chief Bob Day echoed Cudd’s message asking protesters to peacefully. 

“With the breeching of the library and the fortification going on at the library, this has now become a criminal event. It’s no longer considered to be a public order or free speech event and requires a different type of response,” said Day. 

Day also mentioned that PPB will be working with PSU leadership along with city leadership to develop a plan to best approach the “situation” in the hopes of deescalating and resolving with no arrests or use of force. He gave a rough estimate of 50 to 75 people occupying the PSU library, while also stating there is no timeline for when PPB plans to enter the library to vacate protesters. 

“We have to make sure there are proper procedures and polices in place safety wise for everyone involved. Not just members of the police bureau but the safety of the entire community. This is gonna take some time for us but we are creating this space now for people to abide by the law, and to leave and separate from this location,” said Day. 

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt joined the press conference adding, “I echo the chief’s directives to vacate the premise, let me be clear we will prosecute the cases pending review of evidence of course,” said Schmidt. “I expect that felony charges could be filed depending on what evidence we gather including burglary and felony criminal mischief, along with other potential misdemeanors.” 

Mayor Ted Wheeler added, “when people engage in criminal destruction and acts of violence that is no longer the debate of ideas and that is no longer peaceful protest. That is criminal activity,” said Wheeler. “We will not allow acts of criminal violence to carry the day in our city.” 

Earlier in the day, calls for a ceasefire in Gaza echoed across the PSU campus. Among the many voicing their frustrations at a rally Monday afternoon were Palestinian American students Senna and Hannah.

“Every single university in Gaza is destroyed. Every single hospital is destroyed,” said Senna. “Over 2 million people are displaced … At this point we have nothing — there’s nothing we can do other than this.”

“We are absolutely disappointed that our administration continues to fall back, in courage and bravery, and that their students keep leading the way into a future that we should all be following,” added Hannah.

Demonstrators called on school administration to cut all ties with Boeing, as the company has reportedly supplied military hardware to Israel during the nation’s widespread campaign in Gaza following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.

“What is happening here at PSU does not exist in a vacuum,” Senna said.

On college campuses nationwide, encampments have sprung up with similar demands for university divestment from Israel. Those include the University of Oregon and the University of Washington.

But not all students on these campuses agree with the demonstrators, and some say that they don’t feel safe.

“No, I do not feel safe on campus,” one student said. “I’ve been called names, I have been spit at.”

PDX Hillel, an organization that supports Jewish undergrad and graduate students, told KGW that some PSU students feel intimated by certain messages that they say imply that the state of Israel should be eradicated. They’re seeking action to ensure safe campuses, and have called on administrators to condemn instances of antisemitic intimidation.