PSU

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

Monday, April 29, 2024ORcivil unrestemergency notificationhigh 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: 2
Response: —
Killed: —
Injured: —

Institution

Portland State University

Public R2 · OR

~22,000 studentsPSU Alert

Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence · 2 verified verbatim

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

Verified verbatimPortland State University official X (Twitter) account — verbatim PSU Alert text posted to @Portland_State on May 2, 2024, confirmed in search results and cross-referenced against the companion all-clear post at https://x.com/Portland_State/status/1786111217297166527123 chars

PSU ALERT: SHELTER IN PLACE for Montgomery and Blackstone Halls. Updates will be sent via PSU Alert, when and if available.

Sent by Portland State University at approximately 9:00 AM PDT on May 2, 2024, as Portland Police moved to clear the library occupation — the official X post preserves the exact text including the 'when and if available' qualifier on updates

The shelter-in-place was issued for the two residence halls closest to the Branford Price Millar 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

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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