On Thursday, a group of anti-Israel agitators occupied the library on the campus of Portland State University. The Portland police department reported that the agitators had illegally entered the Millar Library for a second time, despite efforts by authorities to keep it secure. Police officers cleared the building at 9:30 a.m., but the agitators returned later in the day, leading to arrests and injuries. The police established a perimeter around the library at 6 a.m. and began telling the occupiers to leave. When the occupiers failed to comply, officers entered the building and began a methodical clearing operation, starting on the top floor.
On the top floor of the library, police found barricades, vandalism, and items that appeared to be staged for potential assault on the officers. However, the agitators did not resist as the officers proceeded with the clearing operation. When officers reached the first floor, they encountered a heavily barricaded door that required multiple people to open. Behind the door, the floors were coated with paint or soap, creating a slippery surface. Four people were arrested, including one who used a fire extinguisher on an officer and another who attempted to hit an officer with a shield.
During the operation, a hostile crowd surrounded the transport van that was carrying the arrested individuals. The Oregon State Police Mobile Response Team was called for assistance in leaving the area safely. The crowd followed the van to the freeway, with some individuals even entering the roadway, resulting in more arrests. While some officers carried less-lethal launchers, only pepper spray was deployed to gain control of the situation. The police emphasized that no munitions were used and that the tools used were standard issue for trained officers.
Following the incidents at the library, Portland police worked with the university to secure the building with plywood and a fence. However, the agitators tore down the barriers and re-entered the building, prompting officers to return to the campus. Additional arrests were made by both Portland police and PSU Campus Safety. The police reminded the public that even if arrests were not made at the scene, charges could still be filed later. Cases will be referred to the Multnomah County District Attorney for prosecution.
By the end of the operation on campus, seven police officers were injured, with one receiving a serious knee injury that required transportation to the hospital. The other six officers had minor injuries or were still being evaluated at the time of the statement’s release. The Portland police highlighted the challenging and potentially dangerous situations that officers faced during the clearing operation at Portland State University. The department’s use of force policy was followed, and the situation was brought under control with the deployment of pepper spray, no munitions were used in the operation.
