PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Tensions are continuing to rise over the protests taking place at Portland State University.
Around 6:30 p.m. a group of pro-Palestinian protesters — plus some that were dressed in all black — left the South Park blocks and started marching through Downtown Portland.
A PSU student told NewsNation affiliate KOIN that they saw people in black smashing the windows at the campus safety office and spraying graffiti on the building.
Another student journalist, Gabriel Elmosleh, recorded the video of people in black taking hammers to the windows at a Starbucks.
The crowd regrouped outside the library soon after.
Some people started fighting, and a woman, Eily, said when she took her phone out to film, someone knocked her phone to the ground.
The incident escalated as both the woman and her boyfriend got assaulted by at least a dozen people.
“They knocked me and my boyfriend to the ground and started kicking us and hitting us and we were kind of getting back up and some people came and repelled them, and they attacked those people. Everybody kind of scuffled for a while, and we were standing back up and walking out of it and they attacked us again and took my bag,” she said.
Eily’s boyfriend, Cletus, added, “We didn’t come down here to vandalize or instigate – nothing like that totally non-violent – but when we didn’t follow the directives then violence found us.”
Along with the vandalism, Portland police said that fireworks were also deployed.
“It is important to remember that although arrests are not always made at the scene, when tensions are high, this does not mean that people are not being charged with crimes later,” Portland police said in a press release.
Portland State University officials are saying to avoid the area near South Park Blocks due to police activity.
The university will be open on Thursday but officials say the library will remain closed.
“Finally, I need to be clear about the status of the Millar Library. Our library is closed. No one is authorized to be in the library. This included PSU faculty, staff and students,” said PSU President Ann Cudd. “Anyone still in the library is committing criminal trespass, and must leave immediately. Portland State University is cooperating with law enforcement on this matter.”
The Portland Police Bureau said “a tremendous amount of work is being done in the background to find a resolution to this event” – including de-escalation tactics and “numerous attempts to begin a dialogue with the participants.”
“We will pursue all efforts at de-escalation, but make no mistake PPB will take appropriate action to do our part to hold individuals and groups accountable for their criminal conduct,” Portland Police Chief Bob Day said.
Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt release a statement about the protest on Wednesday night.
“The destruction occurring at demonstrations tonight is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Damaging property, making threats, and perpetrating violence are not acceptable, meaningful, or productive ways to make a point. These are destructive behaviors that harm community members and local businesses. My office stands ready to prosecute cases related to these activities after reviewing evidence gathered and provided to us by law enforcement.”