PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland State University closed its campus on Tuesday after a group of pro-Palestinian protesters broke into and began occupying Millar Library Monday evening. Protestors have said they will leave only if their demands are met. PSU and Portland police have asked them to leave peacefully before officers get involved.
Late Tuesday afternoon, PSU President Ann Cudd released the following message:
Dear Campus Community, I am writing to provide an update to the Portland State community about the protest events taking place on campus. I have received so many heartfelt messages about the current protest from across our community and while I can’t respond to all of them, I need to share this information.
Let me start by saying that I hope everyone is taking care of themselves and each other. In times like this, we need our community to come together. Passions are running high. People are very stressed and emotionally impacted by what is happening on our own campus and across the world. The best thing we can do right now is to show kindness, care, and respect for each other.
To bring you up to date, here is a brief timeline that led up to last night’s unfortunate events:
Thursday
- Protesters gathered in South Park Blocks (city property)
- Portland Police Bureau asked protesters to leave when the park closed
- Protesters complied peacefully
Friday
- Protesters returned and relocated to the library portico at park closure
Saturday
- I met with protesters and we reached an agreement that library access would be maintained
- No immediate action was taken against encampment
Sunday
- Overnight graffiti appeared on the second floor windows
- No immediate action was taken against encampment
By Monday morning, the library encampment had grown, there was significant graffiti, evidence of theft, and reports of intimidation of people near the library. We became concerned about the growing health and safety risk to our campus community and interference with university operations. Therefore, Monday afternoon, PSU leaders asked the protestors to vacate the library portico. Unfortunately, they did not leave.
Monday evening, following a peaceful afternoon protest rally on the Park Blocks, a group of individuals broke into the Branford Price Millar Library. PSU Campus Public Safety Office (CPSO) was on the scene but due to the size of the crowd, was unable to enter the building to apprehend the suspects.
Therefore, as announced in a joint press conference late Monday evening (watch via KOIN or KGW), I have been forced to make a difficult decision to give over operational control of the situation. PSU has requested the assistance of the Portland Police Bureau to remove trespassers from the library. The Portland Police Bureau is leading the operation in cooperation with CPSO.
Early Tuesday morning, PSU’s Incident Management Team, on advice from the Portland Police Bureau, decided to close campus due to the ongoing occupation and threat to safety of our campus community. Security measures are in place at PSU buildings, including limited or no card access. Faculty, staff and students are asked to stay off campus until further notice.
Let me be clear: Portland State University supports free speech and academic freedom, including protest. The war in Gaza holds immense significance to many in our community. However, I cannot condone or excuse criminal activity that places students and PSU community members at risk. Nor will I condone the property damage that has taken place at PSU’s library and other buildings.
I have made an effort to engage in debate and discuss the demands of the protestors. I have paused PSU’s relationship with Boeing and suggested an open dialogue about the ethics of this issue. I have supported the right to peaceful protest. And I am willing to meet with students to hear them out. However, these unlawful acts cannot continue. Our community also has the right to continue to live, work, and study in peace and safety, without harassment and intimidation. Our students deserve — and we owe them — access to their library.
I have asked that all students involved leave the library. I did this through a press conference last night and again today by posting a video to social media — a direct message to the people currently occupying our library. I am now very concerned about their safety.
Nevertheless, this standoff must end. PSU is an access university to thousands of students who are here to pursue their degrees and improve their lives and the lives of their families. We are eager to return to our primary mission of education and student success.
I urge anyone in the campus community who is able to communicate with friends, family or colleagues inside the Library, to encourage them to leave. We are trying our best to keep everyone safe while ending this unlawful occupation of our library.
Sincerely, Ann Cudd PSU President
