PSU

$1.23 Million in Damage: Pro-Palestinian Protesters Occupy Portland State Library for Four Days

Monday, April 29, 2024ORcivil unrestemergency notificationmedium confidence

Confirmed Threat

Beginning April 29, 2024, approximately 75 pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupied the Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University for four days, causing an estimated $1.23 million in damage. On May 2, 2024, police cleared the building and issued a shelter-in-place alert for Montgomery and Blackstone residence halls while the operation was underway. At least 12 people were arrested.

Alerts: 3
Response: —
Killed: —
Injured: —

Institution

Portland State University

Public R2 · OR

~22,000 studentsPSU Alert

Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence · 2 verified verbatim

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTPushApproximately 9:00 AM PDT on May 2, 2024

Approximate reconstruction186 chars

PSU ALERT: SHELTER IN PLACE for Montgomery and Blackstone Halls. Follow instructions from authorities. Stay indoors and away from windows. Do not leave the building until further notice.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from PSU's official X account and local media coverage

The shelter-in-place was issued for the two residence halls closest to the library as police prepared to clear the occupied building

Montgomery and Blackstone Halls are student housing buildings adjacent to the library

ALL CLEARPushMay 2, 2024, 7:12 PM MST

Verified verbatimPortland State University official X (Twitter) account78 chars

PSU ALERT: The SHELTER IN PLACE for Montgomery and Blackstone Halls has ENDED.

Verbatim text from Portland State's official X post at 12:12 PM PDT on May 2, 2024

The shelter-in-place lasted approximately three hours while police cleared the library and arrested occupants

By this time, at least 12 people had been arrested and the library building was secured

FOLLOW-UPEmailApril 30, 2024 — President Cudd's message to the community on day two of the library occupation

Verified verbatimMessage from President Ann Cudd Regarding Occupation of Library (PSU Office of the President, April 30, 2024)364 chars

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.

President Ann Cudd issued this message on April 30, 2024 — one day into the library occupation and two days before Portland Police cleared the building

The message reframed the occupation from a free-expression matter into a 'criminal activity' and 'property damage' matter, signaling Cudd's intent to escalate to police clearance

The four-day occupation Cudd is responding to here ultimately caused $1.23 million in damage to the Branford Price Millar Library

Context

Background

On the evening of April 29, 2024, approximately 75 pro-Palestinian demonstrators began occupying the Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University as part of a nationwide wave of campus protests over the Israel-Gaza conflict. Portland State closed the campus on April 30. The occupation lasted four days, during which demonstrators created barricades, spray-painted graffiti, broke windows, smashed computers, and damaged fire safety systems. On May 2, 2024, Portland Police moved in to clear the library. PSU issued a shelter-in-place alert for Montgomery and Blackstone residence halls, the student housing buildings closest to the library, at approximately 9:00 AM PDT. The shelter-in-place was lifted at 12:12 PM after police secured the building and arrested occupants. At least 12 people were arrested, including four PSU students. The library sustained an estimated $1.23 million in damage and reopened in September 2024 after extensive repairs.

Analysis

Key Findings

The four-day library occupation caused an estimated $1.23 million in damage, including to technology, furniture, and fire safety systems

The shelter-in-place was specifically targeted at two adjacent residence halls rather than the entire campus

The incident was part of a nationwide wave of campus protests in spring 2024 over the Israel-Gaza conflict

Outcome

Police cleared the library on May 2, 2024, arresting at least 12 people including four PSU students. The library sustained $1.23 million in damage to property, technology, furniture, and fire safety systems. It reopened in September 2024 after extensive repairs.

Provenance

Alert Sequence

Background

Key Findings

Sources

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