PORTLAND, Ore. — After three days of missed classes due to pro-Palestinian protests and the occupation of the student library, Portland State students returned to class Friday.
On Thursday, Portland Police cleared PSU’s library of protesters, who had occupied the library for days; 30 protesters were arrested within the library and at the park directly outside the library, where protesters congregated, Portland Police said. At least six arrested were Portland State students, PPB added.
Police released video of officers clearing out the library, as well as footage of vandalism and damage to the building. On Thursday, Portland Fire and Rescue said the fire alarm system inside the library had been damaged. The library will be closed until the system is repaired, Portland Fire and Rescue said.
PHOTOS: Portland State University library damage
On Friday, KGW spoke with PSU students who said that while they supported peaceful protests, they opposed damage and vandalism of the library.
“I supported it initially,” Abby Procter, a sophomore at PSU. “I feel a little torn about what happened at the library, just because I think it kind of served as means of dividing.”
Other students agreed with Procter.
“I mean, I think protests are positive; I think that’s something that should happen,” Ian Adams-Dirks, a senior at PSU, said. “The sad thing is I don’t think the destruction is necessary.”
“I think it came as a double-edged sword. I think while people were heard, and people feel like this has brought attention to it, I think it also just diminished by having the destruction be the focus,” Adams-Dirks added.
Other students said that the protests were disruptive to their own studying.
“I don’t think anything positive came out of this,” said Robert Pinkard, a PSU senior.
Like the other students KGW interviewed, Pinkard was supportive of the peaceful protest, though not the vandalism to the library.
“With the state of (the library) right now, I’m imagining I won’t have access to it again for the rest of the term,” Pinkard said.
KGW attempted to interview protesters before they had their first appearance at the Multnomah County Courthouse. Protesters declined our interview requests.