For nearly four days, the normally quiet Portland State University library echoed with chants for Gaza's freedom before order was starkly restored, twice. The Branford Price Millar Library sustained substantial damage after protesters, initially rallying against Israeli involvement in Gaza, took over the building. According to KGW, the property saw vandalism in the form of graffiti, broken ceiling tiles, shattered glass, and damage to the fire alarm system. Protesters used tools, paint balloons, and makeshift armor to barricade themselves inside.
Despite a warning from Portland authorities about arrests for second-degree trespass, the building was reoccupied by protesters on Thursday evening after an initial clearance. Using materials from the dumpsters outside, the group reestablished their fortification. Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers moved in shortly after 7:30 p.m., arresting eight, including one by PSU Campus Security according to the information released by KOIN.
The library's occupation began as a manifestation of grievances by pro-Palestinian supporters who urged PSU to cut ties with aerospace company Boeing and to take a stand for an immediate Gaza ceasefire. As reported by KGW, PSU students like freshman Brady Roland expressed support for the cause but not the method, saying, "Camping out in the library is one thing. Vandalizing is another."
In the afternoon, a small group of demonstrators was witnessed marching away from the campus, signaling a momentary pause in the day's chaos. The scene contrasted with the early hours when PSU became an arena of defiance and subsequent police intervention. Portland police donned in riot gear, had previously cleared the library Thursday morning, arresting 12, including four students, as described by Oregon Live. Officers used a "slow, methodical" approach to dismantle the occupiers' barricades, indicating a tactical restraint in the face of rising campus tensions nationwide.
PSU President Ann Cudd acknowledged the complex interplay between free speech and safety. "Of course, we support the free speech rights of our students concerned about the horrors of war and the killings of innocence in Gaza. But we must take care of all of our students and provide a safe learning environment," Cudd said in a statement obtained by KGW.
