Clean-up, search for suspects continue as PSU campus is calm Friday morning
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — In just 24 hours, it’s like night and day at the Portland State University campus in downtown Portland after a long day of protests and police activity and a swift cleanup process that followed. However, the library itself — a main focus of protester activity — remains closed for repairs until at least the fall of 2024.
According to Portland police, Thursday’s activities saw 30 people arrested, 7 of whom are confirmed students.
From power-washing the benches to the walls, crews are hard at work cleaning up after protests on campus.
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However, the search by law enforcement is on for other protesters who fled from PSU’s Millar Library following its initial occupation, after which police put up metal fencing. Those fences went down during a brief retreat from police when the library was occupied for a second time Thursday night.
However, police once again intervened that same night, and on Friday the metal fences were back up. The PSU campus also opened up again on Friday.
Portland police are asking the public’s help in identifying protesters who were seen running away from the PSU library following a days-long occupation. May 2, 2024 (courtesy Portland Police Bureau). Portland police are asking the public’s help in identifying protesters who were seen running away from the PSU library following a days-long occupation. May 2, 2024 (courtesy Portland Police Bureau).
Once the scene had cleared, clean-up crews were spotted removing bins, fences and some debris that was left behind. However, some of the vandalism has proven to have longer-term consequences, especially when it comes to inside the library, which was subjected to broken glass, smashed computers and graffiti on walls and even books.
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Dennis Cote is a grad student at Harvard University doing field research in Portland about gentrification. He told KOIN 6 News he relies on the library for the invaluable pieces of information contained exclusively within its walls.
“There’s books here. These are tools that are not available online or at Harvard’s library. So those books only exist at that library,” Cote said.
In a Friday press conference, Gov Tina Kotek said, “The criminal activity that has occurred in downtown Portland over the last two days is unacceptable and in direct opposition to Oregon values.”
Mayor Ted Wheeler did not comment on what led police to leave the library unprotected.
“I’m going to defer that to the police bureau,” he said. “That was a tactical decision.”
Meanwhile, Portland police shared the following statement:
“The plan all along was for us to leave the area once PSU erected the fence and boarded the windows/doors as they were tasked with doing… When we saw they returned, we assembled a new team and addressed the issue, making arrests along the way.”
Crews are putting up plywood to secure the perimeter of the library, though some graffiti can still be seen inside through the windows. The rest of the campus is getting back to normal, with students returning to classes.
In a letter released Friday from PSU President Ann Cudd, she explained why the Millar Library wouldn’t re-open until next year, saying in part:
“This morning I took a tour of the Branford Price Millar Library and it was difficult to see this important campus space unusable. The library team is working to get remote services up and running and we are also endeavoring to identify and equip alternative study spaces throughout the campus. Thank you to everyone on our facilities staff who has worked and will continue to work to bring our library back online. The building is not suitable for occupation, but we hope to reopen it in time for fall term.”
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