May 1, 2024 6:59 p.m. Updated: May 2, 2024 12:51 a.m.
Barricades against the windows on the main floor, inside the occupied Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University, April 30, 2024. Demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza have occupied the library since Monday evening.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A person writes a Huey P. Newton quote from “Revolutionary Suicide,” on a display on the main floor of the library.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
The circulation desk area.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Defense items and barricades on the first floor, near the main entrance of the library.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Anti-war protesters have occupied the area since Monday evening.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Furniture and chairs form barricades.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A person prepares to rest for the evening between bookshelves.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Signage asking occupants to protect the archives and book areas.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Barricades in the library, in the oversize book collection on the second floor the library. The books remained shelved, but stools, chairs, and map stands have been moved.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Graffiti and signage inside the library.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A tour inside the occupied Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Medic stations on the first floor.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Medic and decontamination areas on the first floor.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Interior stairwells.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A supply area has been set up in the library's reference and technology help desk, on the north side of the first floor. Organizers say all the items have been donated by the community.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Barricades fortifying the main entrance.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Shelves of books appear undisturbed and no signs of damage on the south side of the library's third floor inside the library.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Inside the library.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Inside the occupied Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
The “Intifada Cafe” has self-serve food items available for everyone, all donated, according to organizers.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Tents inside the occupied Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A small crowd stands outside the occupied Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University, where an open mic event was held Tuesday evening.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A small room has been converted to an open food pantry, stocked with donated items according to organizers.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Hallways inside the occupied Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Inside the occupied Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Tarps and blockades fortify the entrance to the occupied Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
The medical aid area, filled with donated supplies, according to organizers.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Inside the occupied Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Inside the occupied Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Graffiti asking occupants to protect the archives and book areas.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Inside the occupied Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Supporters from various trade unions hold signs of support outside the occupied Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University, April 30, 2024. Demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza have occupied the library since Monday evening.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Signage outside the occupied Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University, April 30, 2024. Demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza have occupied the library since Monday evening.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A small crowd stands outside the occupied Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University, April 30, 2024. Demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza have occupied the library since Monday evening.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Portland State University was closed for a second day as protesters continued to occupy a campus library. Administrators and demonstrators said Wednesday morning that negotiations had fallen apart overnight.
PSU President Ann Cudd released a statement saying that negotiators for the student demonstrators had verbally agreed around midnight that they would sign a memorandum and leave the library by 1:30 a.m.
“In exchange, we offered to guarantee no expulsion, suspension or change to their status and that the university would not file criminal charges,” Cudd’s statement said.
Students who spoke to OPB inside the occupied library said no such verbal agreement had been made. The students added that the school’s proposal required them to identify themselves after leaving the building.
A student who only identified themselves as K said the proposal felt like a trap.
“It feels like, oh, we’ll let you go as long as you give us all of your personal information so we can track you down and know exactly who is in here,” said K. “It’s a very simple trap that I believe people could fall for but there are intelligent people here who are able to see through it and stand strong.”
A small crowd stands outside the occupied Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University, April 30, 2024. Demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza have occupied the library since Monday evening.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Barricades at the Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University, April 30, 2024, where a group of demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza have been occupying the library since Monday evening.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A man who identified himself as a member of the Nez Perce nation who wanted to be present in solidarity with the efforts, sings a rendition of “If I Was President” in front of the barricaded Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University, April 30, 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A campus building window reflects the barricaded Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University, April 30, 2024, where a group of demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza have been occupying the library since Monday evening.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Signs on campus at Portland State University, April 30, 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Barricades at the Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University, April 30, 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A pedestrian walks past the Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University, April 30, 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Hundreds of people attend a pro-Palestinian protest on Portland State University's campus on Monday, April 29, 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Hundreds of people attend a pro-Palestinian protest on Portland State University's campus on Monday, April 29, 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
An attendee at a pro-Palestinian protest on Portland State University's campus on Monday, April 29, 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Barricades at the Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University, April 29, 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Barricades at the Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University, April 29, 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Barricades at the Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University, April 29, 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Hundreds of people attend a pro-Palestinian protest on Portland State University's campus on Monday, April 29, 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Hundreds of people attend a pro-Palestinian protest on Portland State University's campus on Monday, April 29, 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A small group gathers in Portland State University’s South Park Blocks, April 26, 2024 in support of Palestinians in Gaza and in protest of Portland State University’s ties with companies that have contracts with Israel. On Thursday, April 25, a group of pro-Palestinian protesters set up tents and barricades and were removed by police after several hours. Police warned in a statement the next morning that anybody occupying a closed park, engaging in violent activity, or destroying property could be arrested.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Signs on a statue at Portland State University’s South Park Blocks, April 26, 2024 in support of Palestinians in Gaza and in protest of Portland State University’s ties with companies that have contracts with Israel.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A police squad vehicle on the campus of Portland State University, in South Park Blocks, April 26, 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Work crews were instructed to remove garbage cans, signs, and other items that could be used in a protest, on Portland State University’s South Park Blocks, April 26, 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A protester carries a flag in Portland State Univeristy’s South Park Blocks, April 26, 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Cudd said she offered other concessions, including continued financial support for anti-racist efforts and the addition of Palestinian works to PSU’s Race and Ethnic Studies requirements. And she said the students had agreed to refrain from violating student codes of conduct as they continued to protest.
But after coming to a verbal agreement, Cudd said, the students chose not to sign the memo. She said about 50 students left the protest of their own accord.
According to the social media of a group representing the protesters, protesters had agreed to walk out “the second demands were met.” But the post said Cudd gave them “false hope in regard to negotiations, only to flip at the last second.”
“Faculty returned to warn of extreme imminent violence and possible death of protestors,” the group’s statement reads.
Some students think negotiations with Cudd have been unproductive.
“I feel as though she is acting in bad faith,” said K, a PSU student inside the occupied library. “There were opportunities presented to her to directly negotiate with students, to come back out here and talk about our demands.”
The group has released a list of 13 demands, including that PSU release a statement “condemning the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people,” and that the school end the sale of any Israeli products on campus. Cudd’s statement only addressed two of the demands: dropping charges against protesters and including Palestine in the ethnic studies requirement.
The library occupation started on Monday night, after several days of smaller demonstrations on the campus. Protests opposing the war in Gaza have been unfolding on university campuses.
Tuesday afternoon, Cudd sent a message to university staff and students, imploring protesters to move out of the building before police forcibly remove them. By late Wednesday morning, police had not moved in.
By Wednesday afternoon, PSU issued the following statement on X, formerly Twitter:
PSU ALERT: Millar Library is closed. NO ONE is authorized to be in the library. Anyone remaining is committing criminal trespass. See your https://t.co/CTOqdmDiZm email for more information.
— Portland State University (@Portland_State) May 1, 2024
PSU officials announced late Wednesday afternoon that the campus will re-open on Thursday, though the occupied library will be closed.
The university had closed its campus Tuesday, but top leaders continued to meet throughout the day to discuss next steps for the occupied Branford Price Millar Library.
A school spokesperson said Portland State didn’t take immediate action “to avoid escalating the situation,” but now wants the demonstration to pack up.
For months, students and faculty have been demanding that the school sever any ties with the company, due to its weapons manufacturing divisions and its ties to Israel.