Protesters occupy library at Portland State University, school to reopen Thursday regardless

Graffiti is pictured on a wall as pro-Palestinian demonstrators have occupied the Millar Library on the campus of Portland State University, in Portland, Oregon on April 30, 2024. (JOHN RUDOFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Anti-Israel protesters on the campus of Portland State University have occupied Millar Library and refused to negotiate with university officials, reports state.

Though the campus will reopen Thursday and ID cards will be required to enter all buildings, the large library will remain closed, Fox 12 in Oregon reported.

The anti-Israel protesters occupied the building on Monday, and the university was closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Talks eventually broke down between the protesters and administrators and police.

“The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) is actively collaborating with Portland State University (PSU) to address the illegal activities at the university’s Millar Library. After a group of protesters departed from a peaceful First Amendment gathering and unlawfully entered the campus building on Monday, the PPB has been working in partnership with city leaders, other municipal bureaus, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, and Portland State University to ensure a safe resolution,” a PPB spokesperson told Fox 12.

“It is important to emphasize that a tremendous amount of work is being done in the background to find a resolution to this event. Among those efforts, PPB and PSU administration have made numerous attempts to begin a dialogue with the participants. So far, our efforts have not been successful.”

Police Chief Bob Day estimated Monday that up to 75 protesters occupied the library. Photos released from inside the library show pro-Palestine graffiti spray painted on the walls inside the library and damage throughout the floors of the building, according to the Oregonian.