The Portland State University campus reopened on Friday following the substantial cleanup effort after the police dislodged pro-Palestinian protesters from Millar Library, as KOIN reports. On Thursday, the campus was calm after the surge of protests and police activity, leading to the arrest of 30 individuals, of which seven are students, amid the continued search for other protesters.
Authorities sifted through the chaos, Portland police have now released 18 photos of suspects seen in homemade riot gear, appealing to the public to help track them down, while clean-up crews were seen removing the remnants of the clash that included bins, fences, and various debris at the end of the day cleanup crews were seen removing the remnants of the clash that included bins, fences, and various debris. According to KOIN, PSU officials have confirmed the campus's reopening, although Millar Library remains closed due to the extensive vandalism that it sustained during the occupation.
Portland police made several arrests on Thursday, apprehending three inside Millar Library – one deployed a fire extinguisher against officers – and the rest fled, including an individual who attempted to assault an officer with a shield, as detailed by OregonLive. After clearing the library initially, a "hostile" crowd hampered the police van transporting suspects and later, another break-in at the library led to additional arrests.
During the operation to secure the library, Portland police found items such as tools, improvised weapons, and DIY armor but noted that none were used against the officers and detailed an encounter with a slippery substance on the library's floor, "likely intended to cause police to slip and fall," KTVZ reports. PSU's President Ann Cudd expressed her gratitude for the authorities' assistance, ensuring that the campus's top priority remains the safety and well-being of its community and that despite some protesters managing to evade arrest during the initial confrontation, police would persist in their investigative efforts.
In response to the destructive events that unfolded earlier, such as the vandalism at PSU and damage caused to downtown businesses, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued a statement firmly condemning these actions, underscoring that they do not reflect Oregon's values, threaten the community, and will be fully investigated, with the promise that the state stands ready to enforce the law. Meanwhile, PSU and work crews focus on restoring normalcy, washing graffiti off of campus buildings, and accounting for any property damage or theft within the library.
